BRS Leaders Stage Fiery Protest for Maize Farmers’ Rights

A significant protest by leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) took place near the State Assembly, advocating for maize farmers' rights. They demanded immediate government intervention, implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and an additional ₹500 bonus.

The BRS organized a rally from Gun Park to the Assembly, which escalated when police and Assembly marshals restricted BRS MLAs and MLCs at the entrance. The confrontation led to allegations of security personnel forcibly seizing maize being carried as a protest symbol. During the altercation, BRS's former minister T Harish Rao was injured, intensifying the protest climate. Consequently, BRS members engaged in a sit-in, criticizing the government for functioning as a 'police state' before moving inside the Assembly.

BRS MLA Dr. Kalvakuntla Sanjay Kumar voiced strong criticism of the government's inaction. He pointed out farmers' struggles due to a lack of input subsidies and the MSP. He emphasized that the government must ensure farmers receive their rightful support. T Harish Rao highlighted the compounded issues from unseasonal rains, which affected maize and other crops. He accused the current administration of failing to implement crop insurance and providing necessary farmer support.

In his demands, Rao urged the government to gather comprehensive damage reports, conduct enumerations, and distribute input subsidies immediately. He called for the swift opening of procurement centers to purchase maize at MSP. Additionally, he stressed the gravity of the government's broken promises that led farmers to grow maize over extensive acres, leaving them vulnerable post-harvest.

The protest has intensified the political clash between the Congress-led government and the opposition BRS, putting farmers' challenges into the limelight once again across the state.