Naidu's ultimatum to CM on buying damaged paddy

KAKINADA: Telugu Desam national president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday gave an ultimatum to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the state government to buy entire paddy damaged due to rains within 72 hours without any pretexts.

“Otherwise, we will launch an agitation along with farmers till the government purchases the paddy,” Naidu declared while visiting the rain-hit areas in Rajamahendravaram, Nidadavole and Kovvuru areas.

The former CM told media at K. Koteswaram village in Nidadavole constituency that the government must purchase the paddy at a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹1,530 for a 75 kg bag even if the paddy has increased moisture or has germinated. Further, the government should bear transport charges and supply gunny bags.

Naidu said if the present state government fails to give MSP for damaged paddy, he would lead the agitation by farmers even if the government books criminal cases against him. He assured farmers that justice will be done to them once Telugu Desam comes back to power in AP during the next assembly elections.

The TD chief demanded that the government sanction crop insurance of ₹80,000–90,000 per acre to farmers, as their paddy has got totally damaged due to rains. Further, the government must give input subsidies to farmers for the next crop. He underlined that crop insurance should be paid not only for paddy but also for all other crops damaged, like banana, maize and mango.

Rajamahendravaram Rural MLA Gorantla Buchaiah Chowdary, Palakollu MLA Nimmala Ramanaidu and TD East Godavari district president K.S. Jawahar were among those who accompanied Chandrababu Naidu.