Revanth’s comment on ‘unnecessary 24 hrs power’ to farmers sparks row, BRS calls for stir

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy has sparked controversy with his recent comments suggesting that 24-hour free electricity is unnecessary for farmers in Telangana.

The controversial remarks were made during Revanth Reddy’s attendance at the TANA conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

During the conference, Revanth Reddy said, “About 95 per cent of farmers own about three acres of land, and need three hours of electricity. So, a total of eight hours of free electricity is sufficient. However, Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao introduced a free electricity scheme which is unnecessary.” Revanth Reddy argued that a total of eight hours of free electricity would adequately cater to the majority of farmers in the state.

However, his comments have been met with strong opposition from various quarters. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party’s working president and minister KT Rama Rao, has called for a two-day state-wide protest against Revanth Reddy’s remarks.

The BRS working president urged people and the BRS activists to join hands and organise large-scale demonstrations, condemning Revanth Reddy’s unruly observations and statements. He accused the Congress party of attempting to scrap the existing free electricity scheme for farmers, which has been a crucial support system for the agricultural community.

KTR further said, “The Congress party, during its previous regime, caused immense difficulty for farmers by failing to provide sufficient power supply. They are once again highlighting their anti-farmer record by claiming that Telangana farmers do not require 24-hour free power.”

KTR called upon citizens and farmers to strongly oppose the Congress party’s attitude towards the agricultural sector.

Congress’ response

Ponnam Prabhakar, former MP, said, “Congress is the only party in the country that has worked in favour of farmers. The BRS government leaders are manipulating the comments of Congress leader Revanth Reddy and are speaking like dogs.” The former MP further challenged the BRS government to a public debate on corruption in power purchase.

Ponnam Prabhakar also said that the Congress’ agenda is to provide 24-hour electricity to farmers and that farmers will be given support prices for all crops. He questioned the motives of the K Chandrashekar Rao’s government which, he said, did not waive off farmers’ loans.

TPCC senior vice president Mallu Ravi said, “Free electricity is a Congress scheme. Congress has the patent right to free electricity. BRS leaders should remember that the Congress government started free electricity schemes. In fact, when YS Rajasekhara Reddy was fighting for free electricity, both K Chandrashekar Rao and Chandrababu Naidu both opposed it.”

Mallu Ravi added, “The Congress party is committed to free electricity but Revanth Reddy did not announce a policy decision there. He said that the policy of the Congress party will be decided in the political affairs committee.”