Congress Reneged on Farm Pledges, Says BRS Leader Harish Rao

Hyderabad — T. Harish Rao, the BRS Deputy Floor Leader and former minister, has levelled sharp criticism at the Congress administration for what he describes as a systematic dismantling of farm sector commitments made during the electoral campaign.

Speaking to journalists at his Siddipet office on Friday, Rao asserted that recent Cabinet decisions on agriculture represent a fundamental departure from the party's pre-election pledges to the farming community. He characterised the timing of these decisions—announced on Rahul Gandhi's birthday—as particularly symbolic of the government's shift in priorities.

Promises vs. Reality

The BRS leader pointed to specific campaign assurances that now appear unkept. Rahul Gandhi had publicly committed to providing an additional Rs. 500 above the Minimum Support Price across all agricultural produce during a rally in Warangal. Yet the current dispensation, Rao contended, has made clear it will neither honour this bonus nor guarantee universal procurement of farmer output.

Instead, the government has signalled its willingness to purchase only those crops and quantities that receive Central government approval—a position Rao characterised as a betrayal of Telangana's agricultural interests. Congress representatives, he recalled, had repeatedly assured farmers that the State would absorb the entire harvest produced within its borders.

Procurement and Sustainability Questions

The opposition leader demanded that the government issue an unconditional apology for what he termed a breach of farmer trust. He contrasted this approach with the previous BRS administration's record, which he said prioritised crop purchases regardless of Central procurement guidelines, thereby guaranteeing remunerative returns to growers.

Rao highlighted remarks made by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, suggesting that crops like maize and sorghum face uncertain procurement prospects if the Centre withdraws support. He also raised concerns about the government's stance on pulses and oilseeds—including red gram, green gram, Bengal gram, and sunflower—questioning how farmers could sustain livelihoods if authorities purchased only partial quantities while leaving surplus produce to market forces.

He noted that Telangana had registered record paddy output of 92 lakh metric tonnes during BRS governance, a achievement he attributed to the State's proactive procurement infrastructure and farmer-centric policies.

Input Supply Challenges

Beyond procurement, Rao accused both the Centre and State governments of hampering fertiliser distribution to farmers. He criticised the app-based allocation system for urea, alleging that farmers are receiving insufficient quantities despite elevated crop requirements during the growing season.