Harish Rao Slams Revanth Reddy Over Urea Crisis, Demands Apology to Farmers

BRS MLA and former Minister T Harish Rao launched a strong attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, accusing the Congress government of mishandling the urea supply during the ongoing Kharif season. Addressing the media, Harish Rao demanded an unconditional apology to farmers who, he said, were suffering due to the State’s mismanagement.

Harish Rao condemned the alleged police highhandedness in Narayanpet, where a farmer was slapped by a sub-inspector for demanding adequate urea. He questioned the Congress’ claims of “people’s rule” and Indiramma Rajyam, asking if this was how farmers were to be treated under their governance.

He criticised the Chief Minister for issuing contradictory statements regarding the urea shortage. According to Harish Rao, the Congress first denied any shortage, then dismissed farmers’ protests as fake, later claimed those in queues were BRS workers, and eventually admitted a shortage while blaming the Centre and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Rejecting these explanations, Harish Rao argued that the crisis was a result of poor planning and lack of preparedness. He cited Central government data showing 183 lakh metric tonnes of urea available nationally against a requirement of 143 LMT, disproving shortage claims.

The BRS leader recalled how the previous K Chandrashekhar Rao government ensured timely supply by coordinating with the railways and neighbouring States, even arranging 25 special trains in 2019 to transport one lakh tonnes of urea within three days.

Harish Rao demanded action against officials who used force on farmers and urged the Congress government to apologise publicly. He accused Revanth Reddy of being more interested in “carrying bags to Delhi” than addressing farmers’ concerns.