Why Did YSRCP Postpone Rallies Amid Cyclone Threat?
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Key Takeaways
Amaravati, Oct 26 (NationPress) Due to the cyclone forming in the Bay of Bengal, the YSR Congress Party has decided to delay its statewide rallies originally planned for October 28, intended to protest the privatisation of government medical colleges.
The party made an announcement on Sunday stating that these rallies will now take place on November 4.
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has urged residents in areas affected by the cyclone to stay vigilant and take essential precautions as cyclone Montha approaches.
He called upon YSRCP leaders, party members, and volunteers to actively support local communities by providing assistance in precautionary measures, relief efforts, and rehabilitation activities wherever necessary.
In the meantime, former minister and senior YSRCP leader Kakani Govardhan Reddy has criticized the Chandrababu Naidu government for its gross negligence and total inaction in light of the approaching cyclone, especially concerning the welfare of farmers.
He emphasized that while farmers in Nellore, Kurnool, and Ongole districts are facing devastation due to severe rainfall, the government has neither issued warnings nor implemented preventative measures to safeguard their livelihoods.
Govardhan Reddy highlighted that following the recent paddy transplantation, there is a significant shortage of urea, and the government has failed to establish procurement centers, causing farmers to helplessly watch their crops wash away in sudden downpours.
“In Nellore district alone, over 200,000 acres of crops have been affected, with another 100,000 acres in Kurnool, Ongole, and surrounding areas inundated,” he stated, questioning whether the Minister for Agriculture is aware of farmers' struggles.
He pointed out that mango and cotton farmers have already faced substantial losses, and now, with the latest rains, nearly 50,000 acres of additional crops have been ruined. Maize farmers, he mentioned, have suffered losses close to Rs 12,000 per acre, while paddy farmers in the Krishna and Godavari deltas are under severe threat from the cyclone. Despite significant damage, the government has not announced any compensation or relief measures, Govardhan stated.
“Chandrababu Naidu neither comprehends farmers' challenges nor values agriculture,” he remarked, alleging that Naidu has not convened a single review meeting on agriculture since assuming office.
“He disrespected tomato and onion farmers during market crashes. Under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, no farmer suffered from urea shortages. However, today, the Naidu government has systematically dismantled the farmer-friendly RBKs (Rythu Bharosa Kendras), neglected input subsidies, and transformed the Agriculture Department into a hub for brokers and middlemen,” he concluded.