The ruling TRS led by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao launched its Maha Dharna at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park on Thursday. After concluding the demonstration at 2 pm, the TRS delegation will meet Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan at Raj Bhavan and submit a memorandum, seeking her intervention on the issue.
The entire State Cabinet along with MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Zilla Parishad chairpersons and other elected representatives, arrived at Dharna Chowk to extend their support and stage protest in solidarity with the farmers. Apart from the elected representatives, the TRS cadre and farmers from various parts of the State also participated in the demonstration in large numbers.
This would be the second demonstration staged by the TRS against the Centre’s discrimination towards the State in terms of paddy procurement after the State-wide protests held on November 12. For the first time after the State formation, Chandrashekhar Rao would be directly participating in a demonstration.
Earlier, the TRS staged protests opposing the merger of seven mandals
from erstwhile Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh, participated in Bharath Bandh opposing the new Farm Laws and also the recent State-wide protests on paddy procurement.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao said the TRS will continue our fight till the Centre spells out its policy on paddy procurement. “We strongly protests against discrimination towards Telangana State and protests against the Union government’s anti-farmer policies,” the Chief Minister demanded. He also wanted the Central government to withdraw the new Farm Laws and the new Electricity Laws.
Further, the Chief Minister stated that these protests were just a beginning and the TRS will intensify the stir in association with the farmers in north Indian States. “We must protect our farmers and secure their future,” he added. TRS working president and Minister KT Rama Rao, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy, Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar and other leaders addressed the people of the State especially farmers during the meeting.