The Election Commission has revoked the permission given to the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao-led Telangana government to disburse financial assistance to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme ahead of polls in the state. The poll body said, "There shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the Model Code of Conduct in the State of Telangana ceases to apply in all its forms."
Reacting to the development, BRS leader K Kavitha said, "Congress has time and again been complaining to EC about the scheme under which in the last 10 seasons the state govt has disbursed about Rs 72,000 cr to 65 lakh farmers across the state. It is not a scheme related to elections at all, but an ongoing program. Congress is threatened that the vote bank of farmers is with BRS, and it is trying to trouble Telangana farmers. This will work against Congress."
"The dirty politics of Congress has once again surfaced. It (Rythu Bandhu) was not an election promise, it is not a new programme that was made for elections, but Congress has been complaining about it time and again," she added.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Congress party objected to it. This is an ongoing scheme and has been in implementation for years. What objection does the Congress party have against an ongoing scheme? Had this been a new scheme, we would have understood. But this isn't a new scheme. Sudden objection from the Congress party clearly implies that do not want the farmers to benefit...You made it halt, this is sending out a wrong message across Telangana."
Earlier, the poll body had okayed the disbursal of the rabi instalment by the state government on certain grounds even as the model code of conduct was in force. However, the nod was given on the condition that the state government would not publicise the disbursement. However, the state finance minister announced the disbursal of the financial relief in violation of the condition. He had reportedly said, "The disbursement will be made on Monday. Even before the farmers complete their breakfast and tea, the amount will be credited into their account”.
Telangana farmers would receive Rs 5,000 each season under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. The Congress on Sunday appealed to the poll body to impose curbs on the BRS to not mention the disbursement during poll campaigning. Telangana will go for polling on November 30 and the result will be declared on December 3.