KCR gives 24 hours deadline to Modi-government to procure paddy from Telangana
New Delhi, April 11: Stepping up the protest in the national capital, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Monday issued a warning to the Centre over its paddy procurement policy, saying they would "go after the government" if crops are not "procured uniformly" within the next 24 hours.
The TRS MPs, MLCs, MLAs and other elected representatives are participating in the "dharna" while claiming that the "Centre's policy is discriminatory towards Telangana farmers".
On Monday, while addressing the protest in Delhi, Rao said, "I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Piyush Goyal to procure crops uniformly across the country including Telangana. Please buy our food grains. We will wait for the next 24 hours after that we will make a decision and will go after you."
"I will come back and will discuss the presidential elections and other issues. We will make a decision in the next 2-3 days and then will decide," he said.
The Chief Minister further warned the Centre against "messing up with the farmers".
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"We have come 2,000 km away from Telangana amid this heat. I warn PM Modi that you can't mess with farmers. Indian history is a testament that wherever farmers cried, the government loses power. Nobody is permanent... When in power, don't treat farmers unfairly," he added.
KCR also slammed Piyush Goyal and claimed that the latter reacted "harshly" when the state Agriculture Minister had met the Union Minister.
"When our agriculture minister came to Delhi, Piyush Goyal reacted harshly. Goyal asked him to eat broken rice. Piyush Goyal is Piyush Golmaal, I don't know what he understands," he remarked.
Notably, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also joined the protest against the Centre. KCR welcomed his presence and assured the farm leader of his state's support.
"Rajesh Tikait, I want to assure you that the whole of Telangana is with you. Everyone saw the way you protested in Delhi. You also made the Prime Minister apologise," he added.
Slamming the BJP for the procurement policy, the Chief Minister added that if the government does not frame a new agriculture policy, the public will oust the government.
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-PTC News
