BJP alleges ‘procurement conspiracy’, says farmers forced to sell below MSP

State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Monday alleged that “a major conspiracy is underway to force farmers to sell their produce below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), due to deliberate delays in procurement by the Congress government, with the malicious intent of benefiting middlemen and millers.”

He claimed that not only paddy but also crops such as maize and jowar (sorghum) brought to procurement centres are either being ignored or subjected to delays, pushing farmers into distress sales.

Speaking to the media at Parigi and Vikarabad during the first day of a three-day fact-finding tour of procurement centres, Mr. Rao said the BJP would expose the “massive irregularities and scams” in grain procurement.

The ‘Farmer’s Plight – BJP’s Assurance’ tour, involving MPs, MLAs, and other senior leaders, began from the party’s State office earlier in the day. The initiative aims to inspect procurement centres, highlight the hardships faced by farmers on the ground, and exert pressure on the government to act.

Several farmers broke down while describing their ordeal, saying they had to wait for days under the scorching sun at threshing floors and procurement centres to sell their produce, while officials and millers remained indifferent.

Mr. Rao accused the Congress government of failing to ensure timely procurement, provide fair prices, and maintain basic amenities at IKP (Indira Kranti Patham) centres. Despite repeated appeals by the BJP’s farmers’ wing to Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao and Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao to make advance arrangements, the government responded with “sheer negligence.”

Demanding immediate action, the BJP chief urged the government to procure “every last grain” as promised and address the heaps of paddy lying unattended at several centres. Reassuring farmers, Mr. Rao said the BJP would stand firmly with them and continue to fight to resolve agricultural issues.

“For the past 10–15 days, farmers have been waiting for procurement. They are suffering due to a shortage of tarpaulins and gunny bags, delay in the arrival of trucks, and untimely weighing,” he said. He further alleged that officials hurriedly packed and shifted grain overnight to mills following the BJP’s tour announcement, terming it an attempt to mislead farmers and cover up the government’s “complete failure.”

Several leaders, including MLAs A. Maheshwar Reddy, Palvai Harish Babu, and Dhanpal Suryanarayana Gupta; MPs D.K. Aruna, Etela Rajender, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, and M. Raghunandan Rao; and MLCs A.V.N. Reddy, Anji Reddy, and Malka Komuraiah, are part of the tour.