Hyderabad: In a strong counter strategy after the Election Commission permitted the BRS government to pay the Rythu Bandhu benefit, TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy on Friday announced that the farmers will get an additional Rs 5,000 per acre, totalling Rs 15,000 annually, under Rythu Bandhu after the Congress comes to power in December.
Tenant farmers and agriculture labourers will also get this benefit," Revanth Reddy stated.
The EC's nod to pay Rythu Bandhu benefits triggered a debate on the impact it could have on the elections, and Revanth Reddy made the announcement to try and neutralise the benefit.
"Take whatever the BRS gives today under Rythu Bandhu. Congress government will give additional Rs 5,000 per acre after it comes to power," Revanth Reddy said while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.
Revanth Reddy alleged that the Election Commission approval just days before the November 30 polling day had exposed the 'secret friendship' between the BRS and BJP. He alleged that EC took a decision on Rythu Bandhu to favour BRS and BJP.
The TPCC chief said that recent I-T raids on Congress leaders G. Vivek and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, not seizing Rs 300 crore stashed in former IAS officer A.K. Goel residence, resorting to lathicharge on Congress leaders and workers at Goel's residence proved that the BJP and the BRS shared friendship which is as strong as a 'Fevicol bond'.
Reminding that BRS government transferred Rythu Bandhu to farmers accounts for rabi season between January and March every year, he questioned the hurry for the BRS and EC to disburse the amount five days before polling.
He said that the Congress had submitted a representation to the EC last month seeking disbursement of Rythu Bandhu before the commencement of filing of nominations on November 5, but no action was taken.
"During the 2018 Assembly polls also, BRS resorted to the same gimmick and disbursed Rythu Bandhu amount just before polling. Political analysts stated that it helped a lot in BRS winning the elections again in 2018," Revanth Reddy pointed.
He accused the BRS of attempting to purchase votes through Rythu Bandhu funds and appealed to voters not to get carried away with such gimmicks.
He alleged that the BRS and BJP were using CBI, I-T and ED to target Congress. "We don't feel like we are contesting elections against BRS and BJP but we are contesting against I-T and ED looking at the way the central agencies are targeting Congress leaders."
