Hyderabad: Former minister Harish Rao criticised the Telangana Congress government on Monday over its handling of tenant farmers’ support. He said the administration had removed the security promised to them. His comments came on X after the death of Khammam farmer Banothu Veeranna.
Harish Rao said the Congress had pledged Rythu Bharosa for tenant farmers during the campaign but left them without assistance after taking office. He alleged that Veeranna consumed pesticide when he could not secure a fair price for his crop or clear his debts. He argued that the death amounted to a government-driven failure.
Harish Rao criticises government after Veeranna’s suicide
The selfie video recorded by Veeranna, he said, exposed the depth of distress among tenant farmers. Harish Rao claimed that the Congress had promised ₹15,000 a year for each tenant farmer, yet failed to honour that commitment. Farmers, he added, were struggling to sell produce, obtain support prices, or avoid middlemen.
He asked whether the government would respond to Veeranna’s final words. He also questioned when tenant farmers would receive the promised Rythu Bharosa. Harish Rao demanded that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy visit Veeranna’s family during his Khammam tour and release immediate ex gratia.
Harish Rao urged farmers not to lose confidence or resort to self-harm. He appealed to them to continue their fight until the Congress fulfilled its manifesto promises. He added that the BRS would stand with them and said better days would return under a future KCR-led government.
కౌలు రైతులకు రైతుభరోసా ఇస్తామని చెప్పి, నేడు వారి బతుకులకు భరోసా లేకుండా చేసింది కాంగ్రెస్ ప్రభుత్వం.
ఖమ్మం జిల్లా నేలకొండపల్లిలో కౌలు రైతు బానోతు వీరన్న ఆత్మహత్య అత్యంత బాధాకరం. పురుగుల మందు తాగుతూ.. పండించిన పంటకు ధర రాక, అప్పులు తీర్చే దారిలేక చనిపోతున్నా అని వీరన్న తీసుకున్న… pic.twitter.com/sJ7f9pUjUY
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) December 1, 2025