Latest news with #VaddeSobhanadreeswaraRao
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers slam A.P. government's ‘corporate-driven policies'
A conference organised by Rythu Coolie Sangham, affiliated to All India Khet Mazdoor Kisan Sabha (AIKMKS), on Wednesday (June 18) decided to organise protests at all district headquarters on June 24 in support of the Polavaram evacuees. The conference also demanded an immediate halt to Operation Kagar, also known as Operation Black Forest, a military operation conducted by Indian security forces against Maoists in the border areas between Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Addressing a gathering, former Minister and A.P. Farmers' Associations Coordination Committee Convener Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao alleged that successive governments since independence have failed to uphold the constitutional rights of farmers and workers. If the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations on MSP were implemented, farmers would have earned profits and driven national growth, he said. Mr. Rao condemned the ongoing 'Operation Kagar', alleging it was targeting tribal communities and branding dissenters as 'urban Naxalites,' creating a climate of fear and repression. Bojja Dasharathi Ramireddy, president of the Rayalaseema Irrigation Advocacy Committee, pointed out that of the 90 lakh acre of cultivable land in the region, only 8% receives irrigation water. He blamed political priorities for long-delayed projects like the Gorakallu Reservoir, which remains incomplete after 16 years. 'Projects like Amaravati and Banakacherla only benefit political elites and widen regional inequalities,' he said. Former Union Government Advisor V.V.S. Mahadev said that every major project has become a profit-making opportunity for corporations, not a public service. Irrigation experts Akkineni Bhavani Prasad and N. Venugopala Rao, State secretary of the Rythu Kooli Sangham Dantuluri Varma, Rythu Coolie Sangham leader Simhadri Jhansi and others spoke.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Implement ‘cost plus 50% formula' while fixing MSP, farmers' body urges the Union government
The Andhra Pradesh Farmers' Associations Coordination Committee State convener Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao has demanded that the Union government implement the C2 + 50% formula (a remunerative price of at least 50% above the comprehensive cost of cultivation--C2) for Minimum Support Price (MSP) as suggested by noted agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan. At a press meet on Sunday, the former Minister said that it was unfortunate that the Union government had failed to implement the Swaminathan Commission recommendations. The current government, which came to power promising to implement MSP at 50% above the comprehensive production cost, has deceived farmers by not fulfilling that promise. Despite the assurances given during the historic farmers' protest, the Union government has not formed an MSP committee. Moreover, it is announcing MSPs arbitrarily without even consulting leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and this was highly objectionable, he said. Mr. Rao criticised the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Andhra Pradesh for focusing intensely on attracting industries, while showing no concern for farmers, who constitute 62% of the State's population. He slammed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, alleging that no crop in the State is currently receiving even the minimum support price. In Telangana, a ₹500/quintal bonus is being given over and above MSP for A-grade rice. Similarly, governments in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Odisha are providing bonuses to support farmers. He condemned the Andhra Pradesh government for failing to even consider giving a bonus based on cultivation cost. K.V.V. Prasad, the state general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, said it was outrageous to increase the MSP for paddy by a mere ₹69 per quintal, and demanded that the government fix MSP at ₹3,135 per quintal, which includes 50% above comprehensive production costs. Y. Keshav Rao, senior leader of the Rythu Sangham, Simhadri Jhansi, president of the AP Agricultural Workers' Union, P. Jamalayya, State general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers' Association. D. Harinath, State general secretary of the All India Kisan Mahasabha and others spoke.
