BJP states ₹ 4,000 cr. irregularities in the purchase of grain this season

The Telangana BJP on Friday alleged that the state government was allowing the operation of a grain procurement mafia and demanding illegal deductions and collections from farmers to the tune of ₹4,000 crore.

BJP legislature party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy said at a press conference on Friday that rice millers were arbitrarily cutting 2-4 kg per bag on the pretext of reducing quality or weight, resulting in losses of up to 10 kg per cent for farmers. Despite the Center releasing advance funds for purchase, bags, transport and labor charges, the government was forcefully collecting ₹75-80 per bag directly from farmers.

Warning of intensified protests, Mr Reddy said the BJP would soon present a joint action plan if the government failed to procure every grain lying in shopping centers by June 1, as only “partial” quantities of paddy beans, soybeans, maize, sorghum, chickpeas and sunflowers were being bought.

“There is no doubt about leaving the government out of the blue. Wherever we went, we witnessed first-hand the severe hardships faced by farmers, many of whom are forced to guard their produce in the scorching sun along with their families,” he said.

Narrating experiences during the ‘Farmers-Distress, BJP Assurance’ tour launched five days ago in Chevella and Pargi constituencies, Mr. Reddy said farmers were in deep distress after unseasonal rains damaged the harvested grain and caused it to sprout. He said many were unable to dry or protect their produce, leaving them with mounting losses.

With the harvest season approaching, farmers cannot return to work in the fields as their produce remains unsold, he added. He also criticized ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao, Bhatti Vikramarka and Ponnam Prabhakar, accusing them of making uninformed statements.

It is “ridiculous” to attribute the lack of gun bags to political developments in Bangladesh or diesel supply problems related to the conflict in West Asia, instead of blaming poor coordination between ministries. He called on ministers to openly debate the procurement figures and claimed he had evidence to reveal “abysmal failures” in the system.

He further alleged that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy had made false statements about 80% completion of procurement when only about 45 lakh metric tonnes had been done. The government took action only after the BJP’s field visits, questioning why such urgency was lacking earlier.

Published – 29 May 2026 20:11 IST