HYDERABAD: Noted agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan’s decision to select Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for ‘Agriculture Leadership-2017’ award, instituted by Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, has led to a fresh verbal duel between TRS and opposition parties.
While TRS leaders, including Agriculture minister P Srinivas Reddy, described Rao as a ‘Messiah of farmers’ and saw the conferment of the award as a recognition of his pro-farmer approach, the Congress said KCR getting the award was joke of the millennium.
“How could noted scientist like Swaminathan select the CM of a state, which witnessed the highest number of farmer suicides, for such an award? How is a person awarded as leader of agriculture when he brands ryots as rowdies?” wondered TPCC general secretary Dasoju Sravan. Congress would soon write a letter to Swaminathan, asking him to visit TS to know the plight of the farmers, he said
Addressing media persons, along with Nalgonda District Congress Committee president Budida Bikshamaiah Goud, here on Sunday, Sravan alleged that ICFA could be indulging in lobbying with various governments to protect the business interests of seed companies, and wondered whether there was any nexus among seed companies, ICFA and Rao.
Governor caught in the crossfire
Interestingly, governor ESL Narasimhan has been caught in the crossfire between TRS and Cong.
Sravan said, “The governor, in his hurry to appease KCR, did not verify ICFA’s credentials. His act is unjustified and demeaning the chair he occupies. He should give a rejoinder on ICFA’s credentials, and clarify that the award is not Government of India’s.”