Telangana BJLP leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy claimed there is corruption of Rs 1,600 crore in the procurement of paddy and collection of ‘U-tax’. He said that millers are taking advantage of farmers by collecting more paddy than necessary, claiming it has high moisture content and chaff. This results in farmers losing about 10 to 15 per cent per quintal, which adds up to Rs 1,600 crore across the State.
Reddy expressed concern that despite farmers working hard from ploughing to harvesting, they are unable to sell their paddy due to these unfair practices. He also accused the State Agriculture minister of sending Rs 100 crore to Delhi for the Congress party’s election funding out of the Rs 500 crore collected through ‘U-tax’. Reddy called for an all-party meeting on this issue.
It is important to address this alleged corruption in the paddy procurement process and the collection of ‘U-tax’. The hard work of farmers should not be exploited, and steps need to be taken to ensure fair practices in these transactions. It is crucial for the government to investigate these claims and take appropriate action to protect the interests of farmers.
