The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Let's wait for panel report: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Let's wait for panel report: YSR

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 22. The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has left the issue of arriving at the correct figure on the number of suicides by farmers in the State to the recently-constituted Agriculture Commission and refused to join the dispute.

Talking to reporters today, Dr. Reddy said the Commission had submitted its interim report dealing with numerous problems faced by farmers. Referring to the TDP's accusation holding his Government responsible for the spate of suicides, he said the Commission would specify the number and identify the reasons. However, he held that the suicides occurred during the Telugu Desam period too and said it had caused misery to farmers due to its "lopsided policies.'' He said a small number of suicides occurred after the Congress came to power but these were due to the impact of the TDP's policies.

`Ryots happy now'

Dr. Reddy said farmers today were "happy and satisfied" because of the "pro-farmer'' measures initiated by him. Citing these measures, he said there was a 40 per cent increase in crop loans, quality seed was being supplied in time and spurious fertilizers and pesticides were curtailed. The Chief Minister alleged that the Telugu Desam was obstructing his agriculture and irrigation programmes by putting legal hurdles. He referred to how a Telugu Desam contractor from Khammam district had stalled the execution of the projects by filing a series of cases in the High Court against the tender process.

No letter from MP?

He denied having receiving a letter from L. Rajagopal, Congress MP from Vijayawada, seeking to re-notify tenders for medium packages also.

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