New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday issued a strong warning to the Centre, saying his government would launch a statewide agitation if paddy and other crops procured from farmers were not purchased by June 15.
Addressing a public gathering in Kagaznagar town of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, Reddy alleged that the Union government was not giving Telangana its due importance in crop procurement. He urged Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy to ensure that the Centre purchases paddy, including rain-soaked produce, along with maize and other crops from the state.
The Chief Minister said Telangana’s procurement process would be completed by mid-June and questioned where the state would store the large quantities of grain collected from farmers. He warned that if the Centre failed to act, the produce would be dumped outside the BJP office or the residence of Kishan Reddy after June 15.
Reddy claimed that Telangana had procured around 7.5 million metric tonnes of paddy this season, while maize production had surged to nearly 40 lakh quintals, significantly higher than previous years. He said farmers should not suffer due to delays in procurement decisions.
The Chief Minister also renewed his demand for progress on the proposed Tummidihatti Barrage project across the Pranhita River. He called on Kishan Reddy to facilitate discussions between Telangana and Maharashtra to secure around 2,000 acres of land needed for the project.
According to Reddy, the barrage would help irrigate more than two lakh acres in north Telangana and benefit several districts, including Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak. Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the delay, he said the interests of farmers must take priority over political considerations.
The remarks highlight growing tensions between the Telangana government and the Centre over agricultural procurement and key infrastructure projects.
