Naidu for increase in MSP for paddy

Symbolic protest: TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu and CPI (M) MLA J.Ranga Reddy ride bicycles to protest increase in petrol price, at Miryalaguda on Sunday.

MIRYALAGUDA: Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday strongly criticised the government, describing it as ‘inefficient' and failing to protect the interests of farmers. He threatened to make it a national issue by raising in Parliament and other fora.
Talking to press persons, after undertaking a whistle-stop tour of Miryalaguda constituency, visting local IKP centre, Thungapahad market yard and interacting with farmers, he demanded increased minimum support price for paddy, implementation of M.S. Swaminathan Committee recommendation, scrapping of the token system at market yards. Mr. Naidu wanted the government to undertake procurement of paddy lying in market yards, IKP centres and ryots' rented premises.
Shortage of bags
He pointed out that paddy in lakhs of tonnes was lying unsold. There was severe shortage of gunny bags. Stocks at IKP centres could not be transported. Millers and traders were colluding to deny MSP to farmers. He cautioned the administration against complacency in view of the monsoon and threat of rats/pests damaging stored paddy, debt burden of ryots. This would force farmers to resort to distress sale.
Mr. Naidu flayed both the Centre and the State for failing to check prices and raising petrol price. He feared that the price rise would have cascading effect with transport becoming dearer and inflation rising.
Earlier, the TDP chief and local legislator Julakanti Ranga Reddy (CPI-M) rode bicycles to protest price hike of petrol. Telugu Desam MLAs Uma Madhav Reddy and M. Narasimhulu, accompanied him. Several TDP and CPI (M) activists, waving flags, marched in a rally from Miryalaguda Revenue Divisional Office to local bus-stop.
At Kishtapuram, Mr . Naidu handed over a cheque for Rs.25,000 to the family of farmer Krishnaiah who died of a heart attack last year due to damage to paddy. V Swamy Goud, Nalgonda district TDP president, V. Chander Rao, Kodad MLA, among others, accompanied Mr. Naidu.