Beginning with a bang and ending with a wimp… that sums up the position of Telangana CM KCR on the issue of paddy procurement. After all the hullabaloo and after all those threats and warnings to the Central Government, KCR tamely came back to Hyderabad saying that the state government would buy the paddy. Instead of bringing the Narendra Modi government on its knees, KCR has said that the state government itself would buy all the paddy.
Speaking at a media conference after a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, KCR said the state government would spend Rs 3500 crore and buy ‘every grain of rice†cultivated during the Rabi. The big baffling question is if KCR is ready to buy paddy, why did he make such a huge circus of protests, threats, warnings and ultimatums?
He went to Delhi thrice and sent his ministers several times. He even organised a massive dharna in Delhi by mobilising the party MLAs, Ministers and functionaries. He threatened Union Minister Piyush Goel. But at the end of the day, he tamely came back without achieving anything substantial. His theatrics too did not find any favour with the Telangana people.
There is another issue here. Ahead of the Rabi season,KCR himself asked the farmers not to sow paddy. He said the government would not buy the paddy this summer. Believing him,,thousands of farmers have not sown paddy. These farmers are now left high and dry. Those who believed KCR are left to suffer and those who defied will have their paddy purchased.
