Minister denies TDP Leader's charge

Hyderabad, May 10 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy today denied the charge of Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Leader M V Mysoora Reddy that he criticised the Election Commission (EC) on its reported direction on 'Rythu Chaitanya Yatra' commencing May 17.

Addressing the press here, Mr Reddy said he had expressed his displeasure on the reported direction of the Commission not to hold Rythu Chaitanya Yatra in the Telangana Region where the bypolls were scheduled to be held on May 29 and urged the EC to reconsider its decision for the benefit of the farmers.

The government had been conducting the Rythu Chaitanya Yatras for the last three years before Kharif season to provide technical knowledge on the crops to nearly 1.20 lakh farmer families in the state, he claimed.

During the programme, government officials visit every village to create awareness among the farmers and give guidance on the crops cultivation suitable for their land, he said.

Through 'Rythu Chaitanya Yatras,' the government intended to provide technical extension and dissemination of information to the farmers and not to distribute any inputs or implements to the farmers, he said, adding, the officials of various departments would involve in the programme and provide necessary information to the farmers.

He asked the TDP leader to write a letter to the EC to stop the programme.

The TDP was totally against the farmers and was trying to obstruct the programmes taken up by the government for their benefit, he alleged.

The farmers in the state would teach a lesson to the TDP if they acted against the farmers' interests, he said.

UNI BR VA GM 1826