The Telangana Legislative Assembly on 30 March 2026 requested the Center to take steps to stop the war in West Asia. Image is for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: Handle @tg_governor on X
HYDERABAD
The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday passed two resolutions unopposed – one condemning the ongoing war in the Middle East between Israel/US and Iran and demanding that the Center take initiative to stop the war, and another that the Center ban paraquat dichloride, a travicide/herbicide that has claimed the lives of many farmers and farm workers.
In a resolution condemning the war in the Middle East, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka expressed fear that if the ongoing war continues, it may lead to World War III. He stated that the impact of the war in West Asia was not only for this particular region but for the whole world as it caused huge problems in importing oil and other products to many countries and had an impact on their economies.
Thousands of people, including women and children, have already died in the war as both sides resorted to attacks and dropping missiles/bombs on schools and abandoned houses among other facilities. The BJP members wanted an opportunity to speak on the resolution but the Speaker did not allow them.
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao moved a resolution demanding that the Center immediately ban the manufacture, import, storage and sale of ‘paraquat dichloride’, a herbicide widely used by the farming community to control weeds. He said that it claims the lives of a large number of farmers and agricultural workers every year and that it is already banned in about 70 countries.
Member Kadiyam Srihari said that 98% of those who took the herbicide accidentally or deliberately in a fit of emotion due to anxiety or other reasons succumbed as the chances of survival after consuming it were very slim as there was no antidote for it. About 2,000 farmers and farm workers died each year from consuming the weed preparation.
Mr. Srihari and several other Congress members suggested the state government to ban it like Odisha and Kerala have done as states have powers to ban it for 60 to 90 days and extend it each time until the Center bans it. Several other members also spoke to the resolution and explained the adverse impact of the herbicide on society.
Published – 30 March 2026 19:06 IST
