Hyderabad: The BJP in Telangana criticized the Congress government for spreading misinformation about a supposed urea shortage. BJP national vice-president and Mahbubnagar MP D.K. Aruna blamed the shortage on the Congress government’s negligence, saying it affects only Telangana, causing farmers to face unnecessary difficulties.
Aruna reassured farmers that the Central Government has supplied more urea than needed for the current Rabi season. Telangana requires 9.5 lakh metric tons, but the Center sent 12.02 lakh metric tons. Other fertilizers like DAP and NPK were also supplied in excess, with the state needing 1.47 lakh tons of DAP but receiving 1.72 lakh tons.
The Central Government regularly checks the state’s needs, but the state government struggles with distribution. Farmers are burdened with transport charges, while Markfed claims financial issues. Some cooperative societies reportedly hoard fertilizers, diverting them to the black market. Aruna emphasized the state government’s failures and its attempts to blame the Center.
She noted that the Center subsidizes Rs. 2,236 per urea bag and Rs. 2,422 per DAP bag. A farmer gets a fertilizer subsidy of Rs. 9,316 per crop, totaling Rs. 18,632 for two crops annually. Additionally, PM Kisan provides Rs. 24,632 in support.
“We condemn the state’s false allegations against the Center. There is no fertilizer shortage; the issue lies in the state’s poor management and corruption,” Aruna added.
She accused the Congress of overpricing urea, which should cost Rs. 268, and DAP, which should be Rs. 1,311. The state’s inability to hold local elections has resulted in lost funding, complicating fertilizer distribution.
Dr. S. Prakash Reddy, BJP Telangana State Secretary, expressed concern over media reports of farmers waiting for fertilizer. He questioned if the State Agriculture Minister is aware of the distribution schedule.
Union Minister Kishan Reddy discussed supplies with Union Ministers, ensuring an extra two lakh tons of urea by March’s end. Fertilizers from the Center go to Central Fertilizer Corporations, then to Markfed and distributors. However, Markfed is bankrupt, causing chaos in distribution.
The Congress government’s mismanagement has troubled farmers, as Markfed‘s failure reflects the state’s economic challenges. Fertilizer demand in March and April is low, mainly for vegetables. The BJP blames the state for black market issues.
A black market controls the system, and the state’s letters to the Center are misleading propaganda. “We strongly condemn this. It’s shameful for the Congress to blame the Center to hide their failures,” Aruna concluded.
