KCR's assurances in Assembly not honoured: Uttam

Suryapet, Jan 30 (INN): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has strongly condemned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for not honouring the assurances given by him to farmers on the floor of Legislative Assembly. He said all assurances to agriculture sector given by the Chief Minister have remained a non-starter. He also questioned KCR for his continued support to demonitisation which has badly hit agriculture sector.

Speaking to media persons in his constituency Huzur Nagar on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed wonder over KCR still supporting the demonitisation decision despite official statistics giving clear indication that the move has completely reduced flow of funds to agriculture sector. As against the target of Rs. 13,000 crore crop loans, the banks could disburse only Rs. 7,500 crore for Rabi season. He said despite good monsoon, the total sown area in the State was 25% below normal. "The decrease in sown area in Rabi season was the direct result of demonitisation. The farmers, especially those who grow Soya, pulses and maize, did not get the proper support price in the market in the Khariff seasons. This time, even the private money lenders were unable to give loans due to currency crunch. A combination of various factors that emanated due to demonitisation has badly hit the Rabi crop," he said.

The TPCC chief said that KCR is still supporting the demonitisation while fully knowing that small and marginal farmers in Telangana were adversely affected due to note ban.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Chief Minister's assurances on clearing third installment of crop loan waiver scheme and release of input subsidy proved to be non-starter. He pointed out that while replying to debate on farmers' issue in Assembly on December 21, the Chief Minister had assured that the dues of third installment of crop loan waiver would be released "immediately". He sought to know what "immediate" means for the Chief Minister.

Further, the TPCC chief said that KCR has assured the House that any interest being charged by the banks for delays in payment of crop loan waiver amount would be borne by the State Government. However, he said banks were still charging the interest on crop loans to farmers only. Despite giving an assurance in the Assembly, the Chief Minister did nothing to inform the banks asking them not to charge interest to farmers.

Similarly, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Chief Minister has admitted of diverting Rs. 720 crore input subsidy for crop losses sent by the Central Government. KCR had assured to release the amount to farmers "within a day or two". Even after 40 days, the State Government did not release the amount, he said.

"It is highly unfortunate and painful that KCR has been resorting to empty slogans like 'Bangaru Telangana' while hundreds of farmers are committing suicide across the State," he said.