Govt blamed for failure of all-party meet

The opposition parties which attended the all-party meeting were slightly divided as the TRS, PRP, BJP, MIM and Lok Satta Party sat through the meeting though they were dissatisfied with the replies from the government while the Tdp, CPI and CPM leaders protested against the government version and walked out in resentment.

BJP Floor Leader G Kishen Reddy, speaking to media persons at the Secretariat on Thursday, blamed the Kiran Kumar Reddy government for not conceding to the demands of the opposition. He reminded that the BJP national leaders also made a firm representation in New Delhi about the plight of the farmers and urged the centre to come to their rescue.

The BJP is prepared to once again take part in the all-party delegation to New Delhi if the government was ready to do something for the poor farmers, he said.

Mr Kishen Reddy also pointed out that the Gujarat and Karnataka governments had made all out efforts to provide relief measures to the farmers in crisis and he sought a similar gesture from the government. But their attempt went in vain here, he regretted.

Deploring that there was no insurance cover for the discoloured grains or soaked grains, the BJP leader reminded that the farmers were left with no alternative except resorting to distressed sales which the government should stop.

He also appealed to the farming community not to lose heart and take the extreme step.

State BJP leader Indrasena Reddy said that “irrespective of the status of the farmers, those affected by the recent floods should get equal treatment.”

PRP president K Chiranjeevi expressed displeasure over the 'package' announced for the farmers and appealed to the Chief Minister to re-examine the issue and announce another set of package which is acceptable to all, including the farmers.

Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan desired that government take measures which spell out proper gains to the farmers. Appealing to all concerned not to politicise the farmers' issues he favoured that the distressed farmers be lifted out of the difficulties due to the recent floods.

TRS leader Etela Rajender wanted that the government keeping aside the politics should take decision to benefit the farmers and it need be lead a delegation to New Delhi to represent the famers' issue.

The TRS was determined to persuade the Chief Minister to prevail upon the fasting Tdp chief to call off his agitation and save his life.