NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has pushed farmers into a debt trap, rendered them bankrupt, alleges YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy
Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy was speaking after interacting with the farmers at the mango market yard at Bangarupalem, 25 km from Chittoor.
'No crop is getting MSP after the change of government. The NDA government is in a deep slumber. I have come here to wake it up. From now on, I shall directly lead the fight against the government to ensure justice to the farmers,' Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said.
Demanding that the government immediately procure the Thotapuri variety of mangoes at ₹14 per kg, besides bearing the transportation and labour charges, he said the government was acting 'heinously' by hatching a conspiracy to suppress the voice of the farmers with false cases and illegal arrests.
'When the neighboring Karnataka is buying mangoes at ₹16 a kg, why can't our State do the same?' Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy questioned. He said that government knew that around 76,000 farmers in the undivided Chittoor district cultivated over 6.42 lakh tonnes of mangoes on 2.6 lakh acres.
He deplored the alleged police action that stopped farmers from reaching the venue. 'More than 2,000 police have been deployed to prevent the farmers from coming here. Over 1,200 farmers have been detained. The government is treating farmers like rowdy-sheeters,' the former Chief Minister alleged.
Demanding transparency from the State on its claims of providing MSP to the mango farmers, he said, 'The government should now show the statistics. How many tonnes have been procured and how many farmers paid ₹14 a kg?'
Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said mango farmers had received ₹22–₹29 a kg between 2019-24. 'Now, getting ₹1 per kg is a herculean task. The present government has weakened the RBKs and village-level agri labs have been made defunct. The farmers are deprived of capital investment or input subsidies,' he alleged.
He asked the police personnel to not fall for the government's 'allurements and corruption.' He said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would abandon them and he (Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy) would be the one to support them again.
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