Hyderabad 29 August : The joint forum of farmers at the national level to replicate Telangana’s successes in farming is expected to serve as the starting point for Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao’s first foray into politics at the national level.The two-day conversation he held with the leaders of farmers’ associations from 26 states in this region is the first step of the effort to establish a national bodythat could eventually become an all-national political party with the issues of farmers at the center of its policy agenda.
The discussions of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief held with the leaders of the farmer community at his residence, Pragati Bhavan show that he has finally decided to join forces with the farmer organizations across the nation in order to discuss the alternative national agenda.
With the leaders of the unions representing farmers unanimously adopting the resolution calling on KCR to be the leader of a national campaign to bring farmers together for struggles The TRS leader is expected to assume a leadership role in the nation.
The farmers who were amazed with the initiatives of KCR’s administration, asked KCR to lead a nationwide campaign to unite farmers in struggles from the level of the village.
In the second day of the meeting on Sunday, the leaders of farmer unions called on KCR to create a plan for the fight considering the changing agriculture scenario in the country.
KCR has called for democratic protests as well as a Parliamentary form of battles that follow the lines of the statehood agitation to Telangana to address the issues of farming and agriculture in the nation.
The farmer was disappointed that they could not come up with solutions to their problems seventy years after the country’s Independence, KCR felt the struggles should reach a point that those who had created barriers to agriculture will be compelled to scream “Jai Kisan” slogans, just as those who opposed a separate states joined the ‘Jai Telangana’ chant.
KCR also stressed the need to connect the farmers protests with legislatures.
He reminded us that the Telangana movement grew stronger when people voiced their desire for an independent state through the process of voting in elections.
He advised the farmers’ leaders to get involved in the political arena and be elected to the statutory bodies that deal with the issues of agriculture.
He also stressed the need to educate the public to support farmers.
A fervent critique of Narendra Modi government’s faulty agricultural policies, KCR presided over lengthy discussions about the ways in which these policies led in the demise of the agriculture sector.
The farmers’ leaders agreed that the pro-farmer programs of Telangana such as Rythu Bandhu Rythu Bima, as well as the provision of free agricultural power shook the Centre.
They approved a resolution to create a ‘National Farmer United Forum’ to replicate Telangana’s progress in agriculture and welfare for farmers policies across the nation.
The meeting discussed the progress of agriculture and power, as well as irrigation and power sector in Telangana and also the implementation of the welfare programmes for farmers as well as the progress of other projects related to agriculture in the state.
Additionally, in addition to the measures that were taken to construct massive irrigation projects and welfare schemes for farmers, KCR highlighted Telangana’s success in the rehabilitation of older tanks in Mission Kakatiya and drinking water supply to every household in Mission Bhagiratha.
He also addressed the social security pension scheme of the state, Aasara pensions as well as other schemes.
KCR informed the farmers’ leaders that compared to US, China, or any other country, India was abundant in water land, human resources.
He explained that the 40 crore acres of cultivable land in India required 40,000 tonnes of water and that 10,000 tmcft water was enough to meet the drinking water requirements of the entire population.
He said that the Indians in India are suffering due to the scarcity of water even though there was a supply of 70,000 tonnes of water in the country.
Although the country had the capacity to produce four lakh MW of power but it was unable to generate more than two lakh MW of power, he said.
He demanded a debate at the level of the nation about how Telangana was a state that was established just eight years ago, has succeeded in providing round-the-clock 24/7 electricity across all industries.
a free and continuous supply of water to farmers, and water for every home.
KCR has provided the figures to demonstrate how Telangana increased the land under cultivation and boosted the amount of food produced.
He criticised the BJP-led administration at the Centre for what he said was a smear campaign against states providing assistance to farmers.
The TRS chief has been talking about these issues however this was the first time he hosted a gathering of farmers’ officials from all over the country to discuss issues and proposed the idea of the creation of an all-national body to address the issues facing farmers.
Political analysts believe that KCR is likely to accelerate the process of consultation with other stakeholders across the country to come up with an alternative plan of action for the nation.
At several times the TRS leader has expressed his desire to play a significant role in the politics of the country to bring qualitative changes in the nation.
KCR has also stressed that his efforts are not aimed at bringing together a small number of political parties together to form a front , but he would like to see an overall change with an alternative national agenda.He repeatedly stated that he was seeking support from all segments of the population with debate in various forums.
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