Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday launched a strong attack on the Central government and Telangana BJP leaders over paddy procurement and the long-pending Tummidihetti project. Addressing a large public meeting at Kondareddypalli village in Rebbana mandal of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, he warned that the state would intensify its protest if the Centre failed to respond to its demands by June 15.
Alleging that the Centre was not lifting grain procured from Telangana farmers on time, the Chief Minister said the state government was currently purchasing around 75 lakh quintals of paddy. He asserted that once the state procures the crop, it becomes the responsibility of the Central government to lift it. Revanth Reddy said Telangana should not have to depend on recommendations or approach anyone to ensure procurement of farmers’ produce and maintained that Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy must take responsibility for resolving the issue. He also demanded that the Centre procure sorghum and maize in addition to paddy.
Warning of a statewide agitation, the Chief Minister said that if the Centre failed to lift Telangana’s produce, the government would announce its next course of action after June 15. He stated that farmers’ grain would be transported and dumped in front of the BJP office in Hyderabad as a mark of protest. Revanth Reddy further warned that Kishan Reddy would face increasing public resentment across the state if the issue remained unresolved.
The Chief Minister also criticized the stance of neighboring states on irrigation projects, particularly the delay in obtaining approvals for the Tummidihetti Barrage project. Referring to the Polavaram project, he noted that seven mandals from Telangana were transferred to Andhra Pradesh to facilitate its construction. He questioned why Maharashtra was unwilling to provide approximately 2,000 acres of land required for the Tummidihetti project.
Revanth Reddy said he had written several letters to the Maharashtra government regarding the issue but had not received any response from the state’s Chief Minister. Since Maharashtra is governed by a BJP-led alliance, he urged Kishan Reddy to take the initiative and facilitate a meeting with the Mahayuti government to resolve the land acquisition issue and expedite the project.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing political and administrative disputes between the Telangana government and the Centre over agricultural procurement, irrigation projects and inter-state coordination, with the state government pressing for greater support on issues affecting farmers and water resources.