TDP urges Govt to protect interest of red jowar farmers

Nizamabad, Oct 19 (UNI) Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu today urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to protect the growers of red jowar and release the arrears due to them.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, a copy of which was relased to the press here, he demanded that the government remove the cases booked against the farmers during their agitation seeking release of arrears.

He said more than 25,000 farmers producing red jower in Nizamabad, were agitating for the last four months, demanding Minimum Support Price fo their produce.

The government had given an assurance that a firm Godavari Hybrid Seeds would purchase 5.11 lakh quintals at the rate of Rs 15.40 per kg but they acquired only 2.03 lakh quintals and paid only Rs 32 crore to farmers. The company was yet to release the remaining Rs 46 crore to them, Mr Naidu pointed out.

He alleged that instead of protecting the interest of farmers, local Congress leaders and the government was protecting Godavari Hybrids Seeds, despite the company failing to pay the arrears.

Demanding that action be taken against the management of the Godavari Hybrid Seeds for 'cheating' the farmers, the TDP leader urged the government to ensure that the Andhra Pradesh Seeds Corporation pay the arrears of Rs 10.83 crore to farmers.

The TDP would extend support to the 'Maha dharna' organised by the farmers at Armour in the district on October 23, if the governemnt failed to concede their demands.

UNI BR ROY 1606