Hyderabad, Aug 20 (NationPress) K.T. Rama Rao, the Working President of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has linked the upcoming Vice-Presidential polls to the ongoing urea shortage in Telangana. He announced that the BRS will back any alliance that guarantees the supply of 200,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the state.

Expressing deep concern for the challenges faced by farmers in Telangana due to the urea deficit, Rao criticized the state government for its mishandling of the issue. He stated during a media briefing on Wednesday that the BRS is committed to supporting any coalition that prioritizes urea supply to meet the farmers' needs.

“We hold four votes in the Rajya Sabha. We will endorse the alliance that makes a clear commitment to urea supply,” he asserted.

Rao clarified that the BRS remains independent and is not aligned with either the NDA or the INDIA Bloc. “We are our own party without any external influence. The people of Telangana are our only authority,” he emphasized.

He noted that neither the NDA nor the INDIA Bloc has approached the BRS for their support in the Vice-Presidential election. “No alliances have reached out yet. Our choice will strictly reflect the interests of Telangana's farmers,” he mentioned.

Rao expressed his disillusionment with both the Congress and BJP, asserting that they have contributed little to Telangana's welfare. “With eight Congress MPs and eight BJP MPs, Telangana has seen no benefits. 8+8 has equated to zero gains for our state,” he contended.

He accused the Congress of hypocrisy regarding social justice, highlighting their failure to nominate a BC leader for the Vice-Presidential elections despite professing commitment to the community. “If they were genuine, they would have nominated esteemed BC leaders or intellectuals like Kancha Ilaiah,” he commented.

Rao indicated that the BRS would decide its position on the Vice-Presidential election post-discussions with party MPs, MLAs, and other leaders. “If the Congress Chief Minister puts forth a candidate, we will oppose it without hesitation,” he warned, referencing reports that CM Revanth Reddy might support former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy as the INDIA Bloc candidate.

He delivered a harsh critique of the state government, attributing the severe urea crisis in Telangana to their governance. He labeled the shortage as an “artificial scarcity stemming from the Congress's misrule” and demanded swift corrective actions.

Rao claimed that fertilizer stocks were being diverted and sold on the black market by Congress leaders, while farmers are enduring long queues throughout the state. “For the first time in Telangana, women farmers are spending nights outside depots, leaving shoes and Aadhaar cards to secure their places in line, and facing police action for demanding fertilizer. Such humiliation was unheard of during KCR’s decade-long rule,” he remarked.

The BRS leader urged the State government to publish a White Paper outlining the amount of fertilizer supplied by the Centre, the stock levels in warehouses, actual distribution to farmers, and any quantities that were diverted or are currently unaccounted for. He also called for the Centre to initiate a thorough investigation and take stringent measures against the culprits.

Rao criticized Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for his silence on the fertilizer crisis, despite his earlier 'Rythu Declaration' commitments. He alleged that Reddy’s administration has faltered on multiple fronts, including loan waivers, Rythu Bandhu, free power, procurement, bonuses, crop insurance, and fertilizer procurement.

“Over 600 farmers have tragically taken their lives under this regime. While Revanth visited Delhi 51 times, he failed to bring even 51 bags of urea back to Telangana,” he claimed.

Rao warned of potential protests if the crisis continues, announcing that the BRS would soon unveil a comprehensive protest strategy from village to state levels. “Farmers must remain hopeful. BRS will fight until this crisis is resolved. We will not let the Congress government sabotage Telangana’s agricultural progress,” he declared.