BRS Urges EC To Reconsider Decision Of Not Allowing Disbursal Of Financial Aid To Telangana Farmers

BRS has written a letter to the Election Commission of India requesting it to take a "right view" and reconsider its decision in the interest of farmers.

Telangana Election 2023: CM KCR-led Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) has urged the Election Commission of India to reconsider its decision to withdraw permission given to the Telangana government to disburse financial relief funds to farmers under the 'Raythu Bandhu' scheme. In  a letter the the poll body, BRS gave the example of Centre's PM Kisan Scheme adding that the funds under this scheme have already been deposited in farmers' accounts and the 'Raythu Bandhu' scheme is similar to that.

This comes after the ECI, earlier in the day, 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. "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," the poll body said.

In its argument, the ruling BRS said, "...the Central Government program of PM Kisan Scheme is also allowed to disburse the amount and that amount is already deposited into the farmers account, and there is no difference between both the
schemes so far as assistance to the farmers are considered." 

"The stoppage of disbursement would cause irreparable loss to the Farmers since the agricultural season would be lost," BRS said.

The party added that the Rabi season has got advanced in the state and thus the state government proposed to disburse the Rythu Bandhu Assistance to the Farmers from November 24 onwards. 

"The same was informed to you by the Government and you were pleased to grant permission vide Letter dt. 25.11.2023 and has given no objection for disbursement of Rythu Bandhu Assistance with certain conditions, as stated in the letter under reference," it said.

"But to our utter surprise, the order under reference Hon'ble Commission withdrew the No objection granted on 25.11.2023 to the State Government to disburse the Rythu Bandhu Assistance to farmers and observed that 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 form in State of Telangana," the letter added.