The Telangana Rashtra Samithi, and Telangana Chief Minister KCR, have been staging protests against the BJP at the Centre, against the Central Government’s lack of procurement of paddy from the state of Telangana. Today, state-wide protests have taken place in Telangana, where slogans were raised against the Centre, and effigies of Prime Minister Modi were burnt.
The protesters demanded that the Centre lift the entire paddy from the state during the current Kharif season and also agree to procure during the coming Rabi season. State Finance Minister Harish Rao led the protest in Gajwel while Transport Minister P. Ajay Kumar led the protest in Khammam, Minister for tribal, women and child welfare, Satyavati Rathore led the protest at the agriculture market in Mahabubabad district headquarter, as State Forest minister A. Indrakaran Reddy led a huge rally in Nirmal town. TRS MLA Sandra Venkat Veraiah and other protesters carried bags of paddy on their heads to register their protest at Sattupalli in Khammam district.
Meanwhile, a delegation of six state ministers and MPs camping in Delhi for the last two days is still waiting for an appointment with the Central ministers. State Agriculture Minister S. Niranjan Reddy, who is leading the delegation, demanded that the Centre should lift the entire paddy, which is either yet to be procured at procurement centres in the state or yet to be harvested. The minister said the state government had already requested the Centre to enhance the procurement target as the procurement is likely to continue till January 15.