Revanth Reddy challenges Opposition to debate on crop loan waiver and farmers’ welfare

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other ministers handing over the cheque for the farm loan waiver at the concluding day of Farmers’ Festival in Mahabubnagar on Saturday (November 30, 2024).

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrashekar Rao to a public debate on crop loan waiver and other welfare measures undertaken by the Congress government in the State.

Addressing a gathering at the ‘Rythu Panduga’  (Farmers’ Festival) in Mahabubnagar on Saturday (Novemberr 30), the Chief Minister claimed that no other State had waived off ₹18,000 crore in crop loans in a single phase. He distributed ₹2,747.67 crore to 3.13 lakh farmers, whose loans were not cleared due to technical reasons, as part of the crop loan waiver scheme and emphasized his government’s allocation of ₹54,000 crore for farmers’ welfare, pledging to invest further in agriculture.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his Cabinet colleagues participating in the Farmers’ Festival in Mahabubnagar on Saturday (November 30, 2024).
| Photo Credit:
ARRANGEMENT

Highlighting his government’s achievements, Mr. Reddy said ₹21,000 crore in loans were waived, benefitting 25 lakh farmers within a year. He criticised the previous BRS regime for its failure to deliver, alleging that their ₹11,000 crore crop loan waiver which included interest dues of ₹8,596 crore. He added that his government had spent a total of ₹54,000 crore on the farmers’ welfare initiatives in one year.

Mr. Reddy also attacked the BRS for allegedly neglecting the Palamuru region under their regime and alleged that the ₹1.02 lakh crore spent on the Kaleshwaram project benefited contractors more than farmers, which resulted in structural failures. “The Kaleshwaram project collapsed within three years despite massive investments,” he charged.

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu accused the BRS of failing to fulfil promises during its decade-long rule. He contrasted it with the Congress government’s efforts, particularly its focus on completing irrigation projects like Jurala, Nettempadu, and Koil Sagar, initiated under the leadership of the late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Mr. Mallu assured that the Congress government is committed to finishing the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme to bring Krishna water to Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts. Emphasizing Congress’ pro-farmer initiatives, the Deputy CM stated that ₹18,000 crore in farm loans had been waived within 15 days and added that they had resumed the subsidy on seeds, drip irrigation, and agricultural tools that were stopped under the BRS regime.