AP CM's assurance to agitating farmers

Hyderabad, Jun 16 (UNI) Taking a serious view of the police firing on the red sorghum growers in Armoor in Nizamabad district, in which one person was injured, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today announced that the government would buy red sorghum from the farmers at Rs 1,200 per quintal through the Andhra Pradesh Seeds Corporation.

Talking to newspersons here, Energy Minister Mohd Ali Shabbir said the Chief Minister had instructed the officials concerned to take immediate steps to procure red sorghum from the growers.

Stating that the government would take steps to curb the intervention of middlemen in the purchase of red sorghum from the farmers, Mr Shabbir, who met the Chief Minister along with the Nizamabad district MLAs, following the farmers' agitation, assured that the amount due to the farmers from middlemen would be paid in consultation with the district officials and people's representatives.

Dr Reddy had also directed the Nizamabad district administration to shift the three injured people-- one in police firing and two in stone pelting -- to Hyderabad for treatment, if necessary, the minister added.

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