Telangana: TRS Leaders Meet Union Minister Piyush Goyal Over Paddy Procurement Issue

TRS ministers and MPs have decided to stay in Delhi until the Centre's written assurance on Paddy procurement is received.

Hyderabad: A delegation of Telangana ministers and MPs On Tuesday demanded a formal commitment from the Centre that it will lift all paddy stockpiles purchased from farmers during the current Kharif season.

The TRS leaders who have been camping in Delhi for three days met with Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Piyush Goyal and demanded that the Centre purchase all of the paddy grown in the state.

After the meeting, State Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy told reporters that they wanted a written assurance on paddy procurement. He claimed that Goyal sought the utmost two days to clarify the situation. The delegation decided to leave Delhi only after the Centre gives a nod to their demands.

The delegation informed Goyal that the current season's paddy production target of 60 lakh tonnes would be met in 2-3 days. Another 10-12 lakh tonnes of paddy is at procurement centres, with a further 5 lakh tonnes ready to harvest. "In this case, we wanted him to clarify whether or not the state should purchase the remaining grain. In this regard, we wanted a written assurance," Reddy told IANS.

State BJP leaders, led by Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy, had earlier met with Goyal and briefed him on how the TRS government in the state is targeting the BJP and the Centre over the paddy procurement issues.

Reportedly, Goyal has been enraged by TRS leaders' repeated visits to Delhi over the paddy issue, although he had already articulated the Centre's position in both the Houses of Parliament during the current winter session.

Goyal told reporters after the meeting that the state administration had failed to buy paddy from farmers. He claimed that K Chandrasekhar Rao, the Chief Minister, circulated misleading information about the problem.

(With inputs from ABP Desam — It is a Telugu platform of ABP News. For more news, commentary and latest happenings from two Telugu states, follow https://telugu.abplive.com//amp)