State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao accused the Congress of misleading farmers, alleging that the ruling party in the State was spreading misinformation to tarnish the Central government’s image.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The urea politics in Telangana touched a peak on Sunday with the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaging in a war of words to push the blame on each other, as a challenge for an open debate was thrown by both political parties.
State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao took the offensive rejecting the government’s claims of shortage of urea and challenged Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao for a debate on the supply and availability in the State. Speaking in Mahbubnagar, he accused the Congress of misleading farmers, alleging that the ruling party in the State was spreading misinformation to tarnish the Central government’s image.
His remarks were a result of the allegations from both parties after reports surfaced of fertiliser shortages in several districts. In several places, farmers complained of shortage and there were reports of people standing in queues to get their allocation.
However, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao hit back with specific figures, stating that the Centre had not supplied the allocated quantity of urea on time. Speaking to reporters in Kothagudem, the Minister claimed that shortfalls in Central supply have created bottlenecks at the distribution level, despite the State’s preparedness.
In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers J.P. Nadda on July 26, Mr. Rao said there was a 36% deficit in supply to Telangana. Revealing the figures, he said in April, 1.21 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) was supplied for the required 1.60 LMT. In May, only 0.88 LMT was supplied while the demand was 1.60 LMT and in June 0.98 LMT was supplied against the demand of 1.70 LMT. In July, so far 1.16 LMT was supplied as against the demands of 1.60 LMT. The deficit supply was seen in all the months, he said.
Mr. Rao requested the Union Minister to ensure the supply of 3 LMT for August month from assured suppliers to prevent severe disruption to agricultural operations.
Meanwhile, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar placed the onus on BJP MPs from Telangana, especially Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, asking them to take up the issue with the Centre and ensure enough supplies.
Published – July 27, 2025 09:47 PM is
