AMARAVATI: TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh took part in “Rythu Kosam” (for the farmer) programme in Krishna district when he called on the families of the farmers who committed suicides unable to bear severe losses and mounting debts in the recent heavy rains and cyclone.
Lokesh interacted with the grief-stricken families and paid tributes by garlanding the photos of the deceased farmers. He said that the suicides would not have taken place if the government had taken timely steps to provide compensation to the hapless farmers. He visited damaged crop fields at Majeru in Challapalli area when he criticised the YCP Government for its indifference to the farmers’ woes.
He deplored that while the debt-ridden farmers were committing suicides in view of greater losses in recent heavy rains, the Chief Minister was not waking from his slumber in his Tadepalli palace. Over 766 farmers committed suicide in just 19 months of Jagan Reddy rule. The TDP would continue its fight against this fake rule till justice was done to the farmers.
Nara Lokesh demanded the government to give a crop compensation of Rs 30,000 per hectare in respect of normal crops and Rs 50,000 per hectare for commercial crops like chilli. Over 50 lakh acres were damaged in the kharif season and the farmers suffered a loss of Rs 10,000 crore of their investment. The day was not far off when the people would rise in revolt against the inefficient and arrogant regime.
Accusing the YCP of breaking its promises, Lokesh said that the Chief Minister chanted the slogan “Rythu Rajyam” before the elections but after coming to power he made sure that no farmer could survive in his negligent rule. Harvest-ready crops were lost in the heavy rains and the cyclone. When such damage was caused in Titli and Hudhud, Chandrababu Naidu directly visited the field and ensured immediate compensation. Under the present regime, the farmers were losing all hope and eventually committing suicide.