Hyderabad – Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has strongly responded to recent criticism from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), saying the opposition is spreading false claims about paddy procurement in Telangana.
Speaking on Thursday, Reddy shared official statistics and said they clearly show the Congress government has outperformed the BRS in purchasing paddy from farmers this Rabi season.
As of May 22, the Congress-led government has bought 60.61 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy during the Rabi 2024-25 season. This is a sharp increase of over 24 LMT compared to the 36.63 LMT procured during the same period in Rabi 2022-23 when the BRS was in power.
“Numbers speak for themselves,” Reddy said. “We have purchased significantly more grain than the previous government, yet the BRS keeps making false claims about delays and farmer issues.”
Reddy accused BRS leaders of trying to mislead both farmers and the general public. He said that during their rule, BRS failed to open enough procurement centres and left farmers waiting in long lines. “Now that Congress is ensuring smooth and fair procurement, they’re trying to cover up their past failures by spreading lies,” he added.
To support farmers further, the State government has directed all District Collectors to buy even rain-damaged and moisture-affected paddy. Reddy assured that no farmer would be left behind. “We are committed to buying every single grain,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Congress administration has set up thousands of procurement centres closer to villages, making it more convenient for farmers. The government is also ensuring that payments are made on time, showing a more caring and efficient approach.
Reddy emphasized that the current government is taking strong steps to protect farmer interests and is determined to continue these efforts throughout the season.
