Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS leader T Harish Rao has threatened to gherao (surround) the Telangana secretariat with lakhs of farmers if the Congress government fails to address their problems, including announcing a loan waiver. Harish Rao alleged that farmers who have taken crop loans are being harassed by bankers

Highlighting the distress faced by farmers, the BRS leader said the banks are issuing notices to the poor farmers and threatening to confiscate properties if dues are not paid. He said that due to lack of irrigation water, the farmers are facing a crop loss issue. He claimed that farmers themselves acknowledge they have never faced such a situation in the last decade.

Former minister said Revanth Reddy had promised to sign a loan waiver soon after taking the oath as the chief minister of the state, but has failed to fulfill this commitment even after 100 days in power. He alleged that four promises made to farmers have not been implemented so far.

Accusing the Congress government of ‘drowning’ farmers, Harish Rao said the previous government had promised tenant farmers Rs. 15,000, agricultural laborers Rs. 12,000 and a Rs. 500 bonus per quintal for paddy but none of these have been implemented.

He appealed to farmers not to pay their debts and said the Bharat Rashtra Samithi party stands with them in this hour of crisis. BRS leader added that party leaders and cadres will visit farmers' fields from Tuesday onwards to prepare a report on crop losses and farmer distress and the same will be submitted to the state government.

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