Ongole, August 2: YSRCP Prakasam District President and MLA Buchepalli Shivaprasad Reddy, alongside former Minister Merugu Nagarjuna, sharply criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for his recent visit to Prakasam district, branding his “Annadata Sukhibhava” program a hollow spectacle designed to mislead farmers.
Speaking at the YSRCP office in Ongole, the leaders accused the coalition government of betraying farmers by slashing beneficiaries and failing to honor election promises, including the critical Veligonda project.
Shivaprasad Reddy condemned the program as a cinematic farce, staged with props like straw bales and tractors to create a false impression of farmer support. He highlighted that under the previous YSRCP government, 53.58 lakh farmers benefited from the Rythu Bharosa scheme, whereas the current coalition regime has restricted aid to only 46.86 lakh farmers, excluding 7 lakh eligible beneficiaries based on party and caste affiliations. “This government has cheated farmers outright,” Reddy asserted, pointing out the unfulfilled promise of Rs 20,000 per farmer, coupled with Rs 6,000 from the PM Kisan scheme, which has now been reduced to a mere Rs 7,000. He further criticized Naidu’s silence on the Veligonda project and other district development promises, including the Donakonda industrial hub, which remain unaddressed with no budget allocations or progress.
Former Minister Merugu Nagarjuna echoed these sentiments, accusing the coalition government of neglecting farmers’ plight and failing to provide fair prices for crops like tobacco, cotton, and chilies. He noted that under YSRCP’s governance, tobacco farmers received Rs 37,000–Rs 38,000 per quintal, while the current regime offers only Rs 20,000–Rs 22,000, forcing farmers to return unsold produce. “Naidu’s government has no concern for farmers’ struggles or the safety of women and other communities,” Nagarjuna charged, citing reduced beneficiaries in schemes like Amma Vodi, where 87 lakh eligible recipients were cut down to 53 lakh. He demanded immediate implementation of the coalition’s “Super Six” promises, warning that YSRCP will not relent until these commitments are fulfilled.
The leaders contrasted Naidu’s governance with that of YSRCP leader Jaganmohan Reddy, who they said stood by farmers, ensuring fair prices and support. They accused the coalition of harassing farmers with false cases and neglecting critical issues like minimum support prices, leaving farmers in distress. “While Jaganmohan Reddy is revered as a champion of the people, Naidu has left farmers and citizens betrayed,” Reddy declared, urging the government to act on its promises or face continued public scrutiny.
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