Rao slams govt over lapses in paddy procurement

Hyderabad: Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao on Wednesday slammed the Telangana govt over alleged lapses in paddy procurement and in handling crop damage caused by unseasonal rains that lashed parts of the state overnight.He said that the rains led to widespread damage to standing and harvested crops, with grain stored at IKP procurement centres reportedly getting soaked and beginning to sprout in several locations. He alleged that the govt had failed to provide basic infrastructure such as tarpaulins, adequate warehouse space, and timely procurement arrangements.He further alleged irregularities at procurement centres, claiming that farmers were being directed to rice mills and that additional charges, including hamali costs, were being passed on to cultivators. He also criticised what he described as “last-minute shifting of grain” during visits by BJP leaders to procurement centres.Ramchander Rao said the BJP’s ongoing “Rythu Gosa–BJP Bharosa Yatra” would continue without interruption and reiterated that the party’s agitation on farmers’ issues would not be stopped. He demanded that the state govt immediately constitute special teams comprising district collectors and agriculture department officials to assess crop losses caused by the unseasonal rains.Ramchander Rao welcomed Sudhakar Reddy, a former IRS officer who served in the central excise, customs and GST departments, into the BJP. Reddy, who took voluntary retirement, is also a national-level volleyball player and has won multiple gold medals in sporting events.