Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday, 17 May launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Telangana, accusing it of deliberately stalling paddy procurement despite the Centre bearing the entire financial cost of the operation. Speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad, Reddy demanded an immediate explanation from the state administration for the delays that have pushed farmers in several districts to stage street protests.

Centre Bears Full Procurement Cost, Says Reddy

Reddy was unequivocal in his assertion that the Telangana government carries zero financial burden in the paddy procurement process. 'The Central government provides every single penny required for grain procurement; consequently, not a single rupee of financial burden falls upon the State government. When the Centre bears the entire cost — covering gunny bags, transportation, credit for payments, interest on those loans, and warehouse storage rentals — the State government owes an explanation as to why it is delaying the procurement process,' he said.

He added that Telangana currently records the highest paddy production in the country, making the procurement lapses all the more inexplicable. Reddy alleged that the state is attempting to shift blame for its own negligence onto the Centre and administrative officials.

Farmers Protest, Reddy Calls for Ministerial Action

According to Reddy, farmers across several regions of Telangana have taken to the streets demanding that the government procure their harvested grain. He called the situation 'baffling' given the scale of central support on offer. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader directed all state ministers to visit their respective districts and personally oversee procurement operations, adding pointedly that 'their role is not merely to sit in air-conditioned rooms in Hyderabad and hold press conferences.'

Cotton vs Paddy: A Tale of Two Crops

Reddy drew a pointed contrast between the Centre's handling of cotton and the state's handling of paddy. While the Centre procures cotton directly — purchasing 'every last kilogram without any issues' — it routes paddy procurement through the state government machinery. He argued that this arrangement places responsibility squarely on the Telangana administration, which he accused of displaying 'negligence' in fulfilling that role.

Other Allegations: Urea Subsidy, Crop Insurance, Loan Waiver

Reddy also highlighted the Centre's continued subsidy on urea, noting that a 45-kilogram bag is provided to farmers for just ₹242 against an actual cost of ₹2,500 per bag — a support maintained without any price hike 'for several years,' even as global fertiliser prices have surged.

He went further, accusing the Telangana government of failing to implement the Fasal Bima Yojana (Crop Insurance Scheme) and of only partially honouring its farm loan waiver commitments. He alleged that agricultural labourers and tenant farmers have been 'deceived,' and that the government's negligence has rendered 'hundreds of thousands of farmers' bank defaulters. Reddy also criticised the Chief Minister and cabinet for focusing on political counter-attacks rather than addressing ground-level procurement failures, noting that yields have risen this season and the government should have prepared a corresponding action plan.

What Comes Next

The BJP's escalating criticism signals that paddy procurement in Telangana is set to become a sustained political flashpoint ahead of the next electoral cycle. With farmer distress visibly mounting and the state yet to respond publicly to Reddy's charges, pressure on the Congress-led government in Hyderabad is likely to intensify in the coming days.