Ex-minister alleges Uttam, Komatireddy took commissions from traders

At a media conference held at the BRS office in Nalgonda, Jagadish Reddy highlighted that while paddy harvesting had been completed on 70 per cent of the cultivated area in the ayacut of the Nagarjunasagar left canal, procurement had yet to begin. This delay, he claimed, forced farmers to sell their paddy to rice millers at prices ranging between Rs 1,600 and Rs 1,700 per quintal. Jagadish Reddy further alleged that the procurement process was manipulated by forces monopolising the paddy purchase business in the region, with district ministers allegedly benefiting from these arrangements.

The former minister also criticised the Congress government for misusing funds, stating that the Rythu Bandhu scheme, initially touted for supporting farmers through two crop seasons, was repurposed to finance crop loan waivers — benefitting only 30 per cent of the intended crop loans. He recalled that prior to 2014, farmers typically refrained from seeking funds from money lenders for cultivation investments.

Challenging the irrigation and civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jagadish Reddy demanded that details regarding bonus payments made to farmers for paddy procurement be made public. He accused police of harassing BRS members who intended to expose the alleged shortcomings of the state government via social media, urging party workers to intensify their online activities. He assured that the BRS legal cell would provide support if necessary.

Further, Jagadish Reddy condemned the actions of district collector Ila Thripathi, asserting that her conduct resembled that of a Congress member — a situation he deemed unacceptable.