Nellore, Nov 1: Reiterating that the coalition government is anti-farmer and it has miserably failed in coming to the rescue of the farmers in the times of natural calamities like Montha cyclone, YSRCP has picked the gauntlet and said it is prepared for an open debate anytime, anywhere. Speaking to media here on Saturday, former minister Kakani Goverdhan Reddy said, though in opposition, the review meeting held by YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has got a massive response as the ruling party, which is in jitters, has failed to safeguard the interests of the farmers. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh were busy in their foreign tours and the Agriculture Minister has no idea about relief to the farmers. But YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has raised pointed questions on how the government failed to reach out to the farmers as it has dismantled the carefully nurtured RBKs, crop insurance, e-crop, input subsidy, Price Stabilisation Fund and the like. Chandrababu Naidu and Atchannaidu and TDP leaders have been slinging mud on YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to cover up their failures, he said and picked the gauntlet of an open debate on relief measures and agriculture sector at their chosen venue and time. We will give the data of farmers’ welfare taken up from 2019–24, while Chandrababu has done with Annadata Sukhibhava for the first year, going back on his poll promises, and people and farmers have suffered during the recent cyclone. Only those farmers who took agriculture loans are covered under crop insurance, which is the figure being given by the government and wrongfully taking credit. Be it cotton, groundnut, chilli, mango, onion or any crop, no farmer has been getting MSP but publicity has been at a higher pitch, burying the actual facts and figures. While Rs.7,802 crore was given as free crop insurance by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government, the coalition is boasting of Rs.300 crore, which is a meagre sum. We monitored every crop and if there is a slump, we swung into action and procured it by giving MSP, he said. The coalition should come forward and categorically state as to how many farmers were benefitted and to which crop. The urea shortage continues and we will fight on behalf of the farmers, he said.
