Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS MLA T Harish Rao expressed profound concern over the recent suicide of farmer Rathod Gokul, who took his life due to mounting debts in Adilabad district in past 24 hours. Rao challenged chief minister Revanth Reddy, questioning his awareness of the farmer suicides despite claims that loan waivers have been fulfilled. Rao criticized the govt, attributing these tragic incidents to governmental negligence. He held the Congress administration accountable, claiming it has failed to provide necessary assurances to farmers, with the ongoing suicides serving as stark evidence of this failure.
“The Congress govt is jeopardizing the lives of farmers, who are essential to the nation’s sustenance, noting that 402 farmers have lost their lives during its year in power,” he said.
Harish further accused the Congress govt of exacerbating the agricultural crisis, contrasting this with KCR’s initiatives aimed at making farming more profitable. He recalled instances where farmers protesting against unmet loan waivers in Adilabad district were arrested and barred from demonstrating under the Police Act.
He alleged that the Congress government is suppressing dissent and voiced concern that farmers, unable to manage their debts, are resorting to suicide. He attributed the farmers’ dire situation to the government’s false promises regarding loan waivers, misleading bonuses, and the withdrawal of investment support.
Rathod Gokul, a farmer from Sevadas Nagar in Utnoor Mandal, Adilabad, had taken out a bank loan but was unable to repay it on time. Under pressure to pay the loan, he ingested pesticide on the 12th of this month. His family rushed him to the hospital, but he succumbed to his condition on Sunday while receiving treatment at RIMS.
