YSRCP chief Jagan slams Andhra govt for 'ignoring' mango farmers' crisis

Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh), Jul 9 (PTI) YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday alleged that the TDP-led government in Andhra Pradesh of "ignoring" the crisis faced by mango farmers.

Reddy met with the mango farmers and heard their grievances, and consoled those affected by the non-procurement of their crops due to plummeting prices. He demanded the immediate procurement of 6.45 lakh tonnes grown by 76,000 cultivators.

"Thousands of farmers came to (market yard) express their pain despite police threats. The government deployed 2,000 personnel to block them. Is this how farmers are treated?" Reddy asked at a press conference in the Bangarupalem market yard.

Security was beefed up ahead of Reddy's visit to the mango market yard.

The police restrictions come in the wake of Reddy's recent visit to Rentapalla village in Palnadu district during which one YSRCP supporter allegedly died by being run over by a vehicle in Reddy's convoy and another died of heart attack.

According to the police, YSRCP tried to mobilise nearly 25,000 people using "cash, liquor, and travel support". Subsequently, notices were issued to 377 individuals, including 55 people with criminal records.

The public was reminded of previous instances in other districts where cases were registered and individuals faced difficulties.

The former CM said even basic crops lacked Minimum Support Prices (MSP).

"Paddy sells below Rs 300. Jowar, green gram, and mangoes too have no assured price," he said.

The YSRCP supremo accused the NDA coalition government of "failing" to begin procurement in May, which according to him triggered a 'complete collapse in the mango market'.

Reddy alleged that fruit pulp companies slashed prices due to the government's inaction.

He sought to know how much of the produce was bought at the government's promise Rs 12 per kg support rate.

Drawing comparisons, he said mango fetched Rs 22 to 29 per kg during the YSRCP government. In Karnataka, the rate was fixed at Rs 16 per kg after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's intervention.

Reddy said the Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) system that supported farmers under his rule has been weakened. Input subsidies too, he claimed, have not reached cultivators this year.

He demanded that the state government purchase the entire crop immediately and warned of agitations to protect the interest of farmers.

Meanwhile, YSRCP leader SV Satish Kumar Reddy told PTI that several party leaders from various constituencies were detained and put under house arrest by police ahead of the former CM's visit.

"Police are being violent against the YSRCP leaders and supporters. Several restrictions were imposed by the police on the moment on villagers also at Bangarupalem. PTI MS GDK ROH