Hyderabad: The Legislative Council saw sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches on Saturday. Following the disruption, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) announced a complete boycott of the winter session over the alleged shortage of urea and problems faced by farmers.
At the start of the sitting, BRS members demanded an immediate discussion on the reported scarcity of urea during the rabi season. They alleged that farmers across the State were standing in long queues outside fertiliser shops, evidencing the shortage.
BRS alleges hardship to farmers
BRS MLCs said the ‘urea app’ introduced by the government had caused difficulties for farmers at the field level and contributed to the perceived urea shortage. Therefore, they pressed the House to take up the issue without delay. They also alleged that authorities switched off microphones when opposition members spoke in the Assembly and the Council.
The members raised the issue with Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy. They accused the government of denying them an opportunity to raise public concerns. As a mark of protest, the BRS announced a boycott of the entire winter session due to the urea situation.
Responding to the allegations, Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao denied any urea shortage in the State. He said the government ensured adequate fertiliser supplies and maintained higher stocks than last year.
The Minister accused the BRS of spreading false claims for political gain. He said the party disrupted proceedings deliberately and misled farmers with claims of a scarce urea supply.