Hyderabad: TJAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram sat on a day-long ‘Rythu Deeksha’ near Indira Park on Sunday to highlight the “anti-farmer policies” of the TRS government and the plight of farmers. This is his first deeksha against the TRS government. He alleged that the TRS government had pushed farmers into a debt trap with its flawed policies during the last two years.
He was critical of the government's failure to implement the crop loan waiver in toto, due to which banks were refusing fresh crop loans for farmers. This was forcing them to depend on private money lenders who charged higher interest rates, and they were falling in a debt trap due to this.
“Nearly 90 per cent of the farmers are small and marginal farmers who depend on crop loans for farming. The banks are not giving loans to farmers citing arrears of the crop loan waiver scheme. The government is releasing funds to banks in instalments which are being adjusted for payment of interest,” he said.
He stated that farmers were forced to obtain loans from private lenders at '5 for 100.
“The government’s statistics show that each farmer has a debt of '93,000. The fresh loans from private lenders is only pushing them into a debt trap. Unable to repay, hundreds of farmers have committed suicide,” he said. He took a dig at the government for resorting to forcible land acquisition for the Mallannasagar project in Medak district.
“I am not against Mallannasagar or any other project. I am against government resorting to forcible land acquisition. The government should hold talks with farmers, convince them and acquire land amicably. Deploying the police or invoking Section 144 is not correct,” he said.
Kodandaram toes Congress line: Harish
Major irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said TJAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram was implementing the Congress’ agenda to defame the TRS and was losing his credibility.
Mr Rao said that by demanding that the government not go ahead with the construction of Mallannasagar, Prof. Kodandaram had fallen into the trap of the Congress and TD leaders who had been speaking against the project.
“What is the difference between you (Prof. Kodandaram) and the Opposition parties? On the one side you obstruct the project and on the other you stage dharnas and fasts on farmers issues. How are you going to justify this,” Mr Rao asked.
