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The Chief Minister demanded that Union Minister G Kishan Reddy — an MP from Telangana’s Secunderabad — convince the Centre to purchase paddy from the state
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy | File photo credit: PTI
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy alleged on Monday that the Centre was not giving the state due importance in crop procurement, warning of a statewide agitation if it failed to purchase paddy and other crops from the state.
While addressing a public meeting in Kagaznagar town of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, Reddy said the state government would “declare a war” on the Centre if it failed to purchase crops from Telangana by June 15.
The Chief Minister demanded that Union Minister G Kishan Reddy — an MP from Telangana’s Secunderabad — convince the Centre to purchase paddy from the state.
He also warned of dumping the produce before the minister’s house at Barkatpura Chaman if the union government remained unresponsive to the state demand.
“I am asking Kishan Reddy where we stock the paddy, maize and others procured by us? I am appealing to Kishan Reddy. Immediately, the Centre should purchase paddy, including that soaked in rainwater, and others. Kishan Reddy should take that responsibility. If Kishan Reddy does not take that responsibility, they will be dumped at your party office or your house after June 15. War will be declared on the Centre,” Reddy said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
He claimed the state government’s paddy procurement would be over by June 15, adding maize crop output this season was about 40 lakh quintals against four-five lakh quintals in the past, according to the report.
CM Reddy highlighted the state had procured 7.5 million metric tonnes of paddy.
‘Whether It Is Modi Or Kishan Reddy’
Referring to the Centre’s proposal to construct Tummidihatti barrage across Pranhita River, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged Union Minister G Kishan Reddy to facilitate talks between Telangana and Maharashtra to protect farmer’s interests.
“I do not care whether it is Modi or Kishan Reddy when the farmers are facing injustice”, he said as he reiterated that two lakh acre of land in the undivided Adilabad district will be irrigated if Tummidihatti barrage is constructed, which will also benefit the undivided Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak districts as well.
The Chief Minister urged the Maharashtra government to allocate the required 2,000 acre land for the completion of the project.
Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reddy said: “Why was the PM not responding to the request to secure just 2,000 acres from Maharashtra for the sake of Telangana?”
“I don’t care about anyone if a confrontation becomes inevitable,” he added.
What Is The Tummidihatti Barrage Project?
A major proposed irrigation project across the Pranhita River — a key tributary of the Godavari — the Tummidihatti Barrage is designed to supply water through gravity flow to irrigate over 2 lakh acres of land in north Telangana.
To advance the construction of the barrage, the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government has been pushing for roughly 2,000 acres of land acquisition in the neighbouring Maharashtra territory.
Political friction is ongoing, with the Telangana government intensifying demands to mediate talks with the Maharashtra leadership.
Adilabad, India, India
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