Hyderabad, May 6 (TNT): Opposition parties on Wednesday criticised the Telangana government following the deaths of four farmers in separate wall collapse incidents at procurement centres in Mancherial district during heavy rain and strong winds.
K. T. Rama Rao (KTR), working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, demanded immediate procurement of crops across Telangana following the deaths of four farmers in separate wall collapse incidents at procurement centres in Mancherial district during heavy rains and strong winds on Tuesday evening.
Reacting to the incidents on social media platform X, KTR said walls collapsed at procurement centres due to heavy rain and gusty winds, resulting in the deaths of four farmers and injuries to several others.
Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, he urged the state government to announce an ex gratia of ₹25 lakh each to the families of the deceased farmers and provide better medical treatment to the injured.
The BRS leader alleged that the Congress government had failed to procure crops cultivated by farmers after months of hard work and accused it of negligence.
He claimed that seven farmers had died at various procurement centres across the State over the past three days and held the government responsible for the deaths.
KTR demanded immediate procurement of all crops lying at threshing yards and procurement centres across Telangana.
Meanwhile, BJP State president N. Ramchander Rao also criticised the State government over the incidents, alleging that the Congress government’s “incompetence” was responsible for the deaths of farmers in Luxettipet mandal of Mancherial district.
Rao expressed grief over the deaths of Gundarapu Venkatesh, Tanugula Abhiram and Lachanna, who reportedly died while trying to protect their harvested produce at grain collection centres.
“It is heartbreaking to see farmers, who feed the nation, lose their lives while trying to protect their produce. This tragedy is a direct result of the Congress government’s failure,” he said.
The BJP leader questioned why farmers were being forced to wait for weeks at procurement centres when the Central government was bearing procurement-related expenses, including Minimum Support Price (MSP), labour charges, transportation, commissions, godown charges and gunny bag costs.
He alleged that despite financial support from the Centre, the State government had failed to ensure smooth procurement operations.
Warning that people would not forgive the government for “playing with the lives of farmers,” Ramchander Rao demanded that grain procurement across Telangana be completed on a war footing.
He also sought substantial compensation for the families of the deceased farmers and urged the government to prevent recurrence of such incidents during the rainy season.
TNT TS
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