Hans News Service Hyderabad

BJP Legislature Party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy criticised the Telangana government for its handling of crop procurement. Addressing the media on Friday, he alleged that farmers across the state are in distress, unable to sell their produce despite months of hard work.

Reddy pointed out that paddy, maize, and sorghum procurement centres are either not functioning properly or have not been opened at all.

Farmers are struggling due to the lack of lorries and gunny bags, forcing many to guard their produce piled up in market yards. He accused intermediaries and millers of exploiting farmers, while the government remains indifferent.

The BJP leader dismissed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s claim that 80% of procurement has been completed, calling it misleading. “In reality, only 24% of paddy has been procured. Even if we take the Chief Minister’s own figures of 45 lakh metric tonnes, that amounts to just 30–35% of the total production,” he said.

Reddy further alleged that farmers are being cheated at government centres, where an additional four kilograms per bag are being deducted, amounting to nearly 10% of the crop disappearing into unknown hands. He demanded accountability from the Congress government, questioning where thousands of crores worth of produce are going.

To highlight the ground realities, BJP MLAs, MLCs, and MPs will begin a three-day tour of procurement centres across Telangana starting Monday, led by state president N Ramchander Rao. The party plans to expose discrepancies in crop purchases and assure farmers of support.