HYDERABAD: The TRS delegation of ministers and MPs, waiting in New Delhi since Saturday to meet Union food and public distribution minister Piyush Goel, on Monday demanded that the Centre give a written assurance on how much more paddy it will procure from Telangana.
The delegation said that they wanted a written assurance as they have had several bad experiences with the Centre’s oral assurances. The Telangana government is demanding that the Centre increase its paddy procurement target in Telangana from the present 60 lakh metric tonnes (40 lakh metric tonnes rice) to at least 90 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. Over 1.3 crore tonnes of paddy is expected to have been harvested in vaanakalam (kharif) season from over 62 lakh acres.
“Following our repeated requests earlier, Union minister Piyush Goyal had assured in Parliament that the Centre was ready to procure the entire paddy crop from Telangana in the form of raw rice. We are here to request the Union minister to issue orders immediately to enhance the procurement targets by the Centre,” agriculture minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy said.
Niranjan Reddy along with his cabinet colleagues and party MPs told a media conference in New Delhi on Monday that they flew into New Delhi on Saturday seeking an appointment with Goyal, but were told by the minister’s office that he was in Mumbai on Saturday and Sunday. TRS parliamentary party leader K Keshav Rao spoke to the Goyal on phone and the TRS delegation was asked to meet the Union minister in Parliament.Delegation has also sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Goyal may meet TRS team today: After waiting for three days, TRS delegation of ministers and MPs has reportedly got an appointment with Union food and public distribution minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday afternoon.
