Deccan Chronicle

Cong. to raise turmeric farmers’ problems in LS

Party suggests market interventi­on schemes to save farmers BJP SLAMS REVANTH FOR COMPARING SHORT POLITICAL CAREERS WITH CHILD WIDOWS

- NARENDER PULLOOR | DC N. VAMSI SRINIVAS IDC

Telangana PCC chief and Malkajgiri MP A. Revanth Reddy said on Saturday that the problems of turmeric farmers in the state will be raised by Congress members in the budget session of Parliament. A padayatra or a tractor rally will be taken out from the state to Delhi, he said He alleged that farmers’ problems are being ignored by both state and Central government­s.

“The Congress stands with the turmeric farmers. Their issues will be discussed with Rahul Gandhi and a national-level agitation will be organised by us,” Revanth Reddy said and asked BJP national leader Ram Madhav and its Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind to stick to their LS election promise in Armoor that a turmeric board would be set up to ensure minimum support price to the produce.

The Congress observed a Rythu Deeksha in Armoor on Saturday by way of expressing the party’s solidarity with turmeric farmers. Former ministers Shabbir Ali, P. Sudarshan Reddy, MLC T. Jeevan Reddy, MLA Seethakka and former MLAs S. Gangaram and Eravathri Anil were among those present. Revanth Reddy offered lime juice to Congress

Malkajgiri MP A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday drew serious flak for an analogy he used to draw parallels to the short political careers with that of the destiny of a child widow.

To score a point over Dharmapuri Arvind, BJP MP from Nizamabad, who, according to Revanth Reddy. “failed to fulfil many of his electoral promises”, including the setting up of a turmeric board, the TS Congress working president said that people would teach him a lesson by defeating him in the next elections.

“In such case, he would meet the fate of a child widow, who would have lost everything by the time she even realises what life is about. Do you want to remain a child widow,” Revanth Reddy said.

The BJP and women admonished the MP and described his comments as

leaders as they ended the Rythu Deeskha at exhibition grounds in the evening.

Turmeric farmers from erstwhile Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts and Congress leaders took part

“Inhumane and insensitiv­e”.

Woman and culture activist Devi took strong exception to Revanth Reddy’s comments, saying that the area from where the Congress leader hails is notorious for child marriages even now. Devi said it reflected his failure as an elected representa­tive to stop the social evil.

The woman activist reminded Revanth Reddy that the younger generation­s had moved on and society, thanks to progressiv­e minds, unlike him, had reached a stage where remarriage­s are being conducted for child widows. “Grow up Revanth,” she said.Refusing to react to “substandar­d” comments of the Congress leader, Arvind s aid, “All I would say is that we all know about Revanth and his class of politics. He continues to make lewd and awful comments. He made abusive language a new norm of public speaking. People will teach him a befitting lesson.”

in the Deeskha.

Speaking at the event, Revanth Reddy said Chief Minister K. Chandrashe­kar Rao had declared a fight against the BJP government in Delhi after the GHMC elections, but thereafter he was remaining silent on the controvers­ial agricultur­e laws. “If they are your real political opponents, why not support the turmeric farmers’ cause,” he asked the TRS leaders.

The PCC chief said the National Crime Records Bureau statistics showed 6,358 farmers died due to agrarian distress. “KCR spent `2,000 crore for his official residence Pragathi Bhavan while `3,000 crore was allocated for the work on the new Secretaria­t which the CM has initiated based on his vasthu beliefs. But, but he is ignoring the problems of the turmeric farmers,” he alleged.

The Congress leader suggested to the government to initiate a market interventi­on scheme to save the turmeric farmers from their present plight. “Turmeric farmers have shown their power by defeating former MP Kalvakuntl­a Kavitha in the last Lok Sabha elections. They can do so again,” he warned the TRS government.

“MP Arvind will also learn a lesson in the near future, Revanth Reddy said and dared BJP state president Bandi Sanjay to fight a poll on the turmeric farmers’ issue. “Sanjay swings into action on any issue in the state, but why is he neglecting the turmeric farmers,” he asked.

 ?? — BY ARRANGEMEN­T ?? TPCC working president A. Revanth Reddy along with party leaders addressess a Rythu Deeksha in Armoor of Nizamabad district on Saturday.
— BY ARRANGEMEN­T TPCC working president A. Revanth Reddy along with party leaders addressess a Rythu Deeksha in Armoor of Nizamabad district on Saturday.

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