KTR accuses Congress, BJP of neglecting Telangana farmers, seeks pending Rythu Bandhu dues, drought relief

BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP-led central government of neglecting distressed farmers and failing to provide relief amid drought in the state.

Addressing a public meeting called ‘Rythu Garjana’ in Nirmal on Wednesday evening, Mr Rao alleged that the Congress government had turned the drought situation into a man-made crisis by prioritizing politics over farmers’ problems and failing to utilize available water resources.

He accused the government of deliberately neglecting major irrigation projects. Though the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project was almost 90% complete, it was put on hold while the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) was also neglected, he alleged.

“Why was nearly 1,000 TMC of Telangana’s rightful share of Godavari and Krishna waters allowed to flow downstream,” he asked citing Pattiseema and the Kuppam water supply in Andhra Pradesh.

He questioned why Andhra Pradesh projects were getting water while Palamuru and Nirmal were facing drought.

Mr. Rao alleged that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was more concerned with political criticism than solving farmers’ problems.

Recalling the initiatives launched during the BRS government, he said former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had introduced several schemes including Mission Kakatiya, 24-hour power supply, 11 installments of Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and decentralized paddy procurement.

Mr. Rao targeted the BJP and accused its eight MPs and eight MLAs of failing to protect farmers’ interests.

On the “Centre’s response” to the drought, he asked “why assessment teams were sent to neighboring Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra while the drought situation in Telangana was ignored”.

He urged BJP leaders to stage a dharna outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi and demand drought relief and adequate financial assistance for the state.

He demanded that the state government immediately release all the four outstanding installments of Rythu Bandhu.

He also asked for a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 for 36 months, amounting to ₹36,000, for each agricultural laborer who lost his livelihood due to the drought.

He further demanded rescheduling of agricultural loans and completion of waiver of pending agricultural loans.

Published – 11 Nov 2026 21:50 IST