Telangana CM Calls on Left Parties to Challenge Centre Over Farm Procurement Shortfalls

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has called on Left parties to intensify their campaign against the Centre's inadequate handling of agricultural procurement, during a Monday meeting with Communist Party of India (Marxist) representatives at the state Secretariat.

Revanth Reddy criticized the Union government for merely announcing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) while shirking its responsibility to actually purchase paddy and maize from farmers. He contended that the Centre was procuring less than 30 percent of harvested produce, contrasting this sharply with Telangana's approach of purchasing every grain produced by cultivators.

The Chief Minister urged CPM leaders to amplify their efforts in pushing back against the Centre's procurement operations and to mount sustained political pressure on the national government.

During the meeting, Revanth Reddy outlined specific challenges hampering procurement efforts across the state. He noted that a shortage of loaders—many of whom had travelled to West Bengal for elections—was constraining operations. Additionally, he pointed to severe heat wave conditions that were disrupting work at procurement centres during afternoon hours.

Telangana's procurement support measures include a Rs. 500 per quintal bonus for fine variety paddy and assurance of MSP rates for maize. The Chief Minister emphasized that he was actively monitoring procurement operations statewide to ensure farmers receive adequate support.

The delegation also discussed the Musi Rejuvenation project, with Revanth Reddy briefing CPM representatives on rehabilitation initiatives for families displaced along the river. The government is providing housing to affected households as part of the project, which aims to develop the riverfront into a world-class tourism hub while generating employment for local youth.

Revanth Reddy took the opportunity to attack the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BRS) for politicizing the Musi project. He also highlighted pollution concerns impacting residents in Nalgonda district stemming from Musi river contamination. "My objective is to provide a quality life to the citizens of the city," he stated.

Education sector reforms featured prominently in the discussions, with Revanth Reddy outlining the government's overhaul of the education system to expand quality educational access for disadvantaged students. The reforms encompass nutritious breakfast and midday meal schemes alongside the launch of Telangana public schools. He invited CPM leaders to visit Arutla Public School to observe the improvements firsthand.

The CPM delegation, headed by State Secretary John Wesley, expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for implementing the Minimum Wages Amendment Act. The meeting was attended by former MLA Julakanti Rangareddy, P. Sudarshan, Jyothi, Nunna Nageswara Rao, Mallu Lakshmi, Samineni Swarajyam, M. Gopala Rao, and Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy.