Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has strongly condemned the State Cabinet for skipping discussion on the farmers' issues, including the suicides.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Shabbir Ali said people, especially farmers, had lot of expectations from the State Cabinet, which met after a gap over three months. However, the Cabinet completely avoided the farmers' issues although, about a few hours before the cabinet meeting, Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy addressed the media admitting that 409 farmers have committed suicide since TRS Government took over.
He said that the cabinet should have increased the compensation amount, as per GO 421, from present Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh.
It should have announced a special package for drought hit farmers and approved short-term crop loans. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao came up with same old rhetoric based on tall claims and fake promises.
Shabbir Ali said till a week ago, the Agriculture Minister was contending that figure of farmers suicides were below 100. However, he came halfway and admitted of 409 suicides.
He is still negating the figures furnished by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which placed Telangana on second position with over 1,000 suicides.
