HYDERABAD: BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao on Sunday reiterated his claim that Medchal farmer Surender Reddy died by suicide as his crop loan was not waived.
Speaking to reporters here, Harish alleged that the farmer ended his life after leaving a letter at the Agriculture Department office in Medchal. “He had loans with APGVB Bank — Rs 1.93 lakh in his name and Rs 1.15 lakh in his mother’s name. The bank manager told his family that only one member is eligible for loan waiver. Unable to cope, Surender Reddy took the extreme step,” he added.
Alleging that crop loans of only one member of the family were waived, the Siddipet MLA said that there were several such instances in the state.
“For example, in Narayanraopet village in Siddipet district, Nalla Manemma, a farmer, has a loan of Rs 1 lakh. Her husband passed away sometime in 2010, but bank officials are now asking her produce for her husband’s Aadhaar card to process the loan waiver. How can someone provide an Aadhaar card of person who passed away before Aadhaar card system was introduced,” he wondered.
“In another case, Kumbala Siddha Reddy and Chatla Harish, two unmarried farmers, are being asked to provide their wives’ Aadhaar cards. Are they supposed to get married just to have their loans waived,” he asked.
“These are just a few examples,” Harish said and alleged that the state government waived loans for only 20 lakh farmers while more than 21 lakh farmers were still waiting to receive the benefits of loan waiver scheme.
“Surender Reddy’s death was not a suicide and it was a murder committed by the Congress government,” Harish Rao said and claimed that “so far 470 farmers died under the Congress rule”.
Express displeasure over delay in appointing PAC
Meanwhile, Harish expressed displeasure over the delay in appointing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Public Undertakings Committee and Estimates Committee.
Recalling that Congress leader KC Venugopal was appointed as PAC chairman in the Parliament, he wondered whether there were separate rules for the Parliament and Assembly. On appointing the Assembly committees, Harish Rao said if necessary they would take up the matter with AICC leader Rahul Gandhi.
It may be mentioned here that the BRS MLA is the frontrunner for PAC chairman’s post.
The BRS leader also alleged that no decision was taken on the proposal to appoint former Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary as BRS Legislature Party leader in the State Legislative Council. He said that proposal to appoint Chary was sent around 40 days ago.