Hyderabad: The TD members also sought the sacking of agriculture minister Mr Pocharam Srinivas Reddy for reportedly saying that farmers were committing suicide due to family problems.
The Congress and BJP members also trooped into the well and stalled the proceedings, demanding a debate on farmers’ suicides and the ongoing power crisis.
Minister for legislative affairs T. Harish Rao moved the motion to suspend 10 TD MLAs after repeated requests by the Speaker and the government failed to convince them to call off their agitation.
Meanwhile, ten Telugu Desam legislators, who were suspended from Assembly for the day, sat on dharna on the Assembly premises demanding an unconditional apology from agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy for his comments that all suicides were not farm related, that some were linked to family disputes and others.
Mr Srinivas Reddy, denied making any uncharitable comments against farmers' suicides.
“I only said all were not farm related and there were other causes too.”
I also said only a thorough probe will unearth the facts. I didn't make any comment that will belittle the farmers since I am a farmer too and have high regard for them. TD is distorting the statement I made yesterday," the Agriculture minister remarked.
But Telugu Desam legislators demanded an unconditional apology to farmers, and payment of ex-gratia of Rs 10lakh each to the kin of all the 300 odd dead farmers. In fact, some TD legislators even demanded the resignation and dismissal of the Agriculture Minister from the cabinet.
Later the Telugu Desam MLAs left for Gajwel, the constituency of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and called on kin of a farmer Srisailam who had allegedly committed suicide due to debts. TD delegation paid Rs 50,000 to the family.
"As many as 360 farmers committed suicide in Telangana including some in Chief Minister's own constituency Gajwel, but the CM is unmoved," Revanth Reddy said.
