KAKINADA: Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday accused Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of being squarely responsible for the plight of paddy, maize and mango farmers in the state.
Visiting rain-hit areas like Nachugunta in Unguturu mandal of Eluru district, Nandamuru in Tadepalligudem of West Godavari district and Duvva in Tanuku mandal, Naidu said Jagan Mohan Reddy has not adequately responded to the plight of farmers, despite the Indian Meteorological Department warning about the rains.
Speaking to the media at Tanuku, the TD chief said the Jagan Mohan Reddy government should have started procurement of food grains in the first week of April itself. But the government did not provide farmers with even gunny bags to keep their produce safe. He said that the Chief Minister is answerable to farmers. He should at least now purchase the entire paddy without taking into account moisture content or broken grains.
“TD leaders and workers will fight against the government along with farmers till it procures the last grain,” Naidu stated.
One of the farmers in Unguturu mandal told the former CM that he wanted to die as he cannot bear the loss. But Naidu consoled him and said he would help by bringing the government to the doorsteps of farmers.
The TD chief said civil supplies minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao should answer why paddy could not be purchased even in the minister’s own Tanuku constituency.
