Published Nov 11, 2026 | 9:53 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 11, 2026 | 9:53 PM
Synopsis: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has demanded ₹36,000 in drought relief for each affected agricultural labourer, the release of four pending Rythu Bandhu instalments and completion of the farm loan waiver in Telangana. Addressing a public meeting in Nirmal, he accused the Congress government of neglecting farmers and stalling irrigation projects, and demanded that the BJP-led Centre provide drought relief to the State.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has demanded ₹36,000 in financial assistance for every agricultural labourer who had lost their livelihood due to drought in Telangana, and the immediate release of four pending instalments of Rythu Bandhu to farmers.
Addressing the Rythu Garjana public meeting in Nirmal on Wednesday, 11 November, he demanded assistance of ₹1,000 a month for 36 months for drought-hit agricultural labourers, immediate rescheduling of agricultural loans and completion of the pending farm loan waiver.
He accused the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP-led Union government of neglecting farmers and denying the State its rightful share of financial assistance and water resources. He called upon people to defeat the Congress in the next elections and bring BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) back to power.
KTR accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of ignoring the drought across Telangana and placing political criticism above farmers’ problems. Farmers were waiting for assurances on irrigation water, uninterrupted power supply and financial assistance, but the chief minister was not responding to their concerns, he said.
Instead, Revanth Reddy appeared more worried about KTR’s beard, he quipped.
Agricultural labourers in villages were struggling without work or income, he said, demanding immediate financial assistance for them.
KTR asked why the Centre’s drought assessment teams were being sent to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra while Telangana was being ignored.
“Telangana needs votes and seats for the BJP, but does the State not deserve funds? Does Telangana have no place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s heart?” he asked.
He challenged BJP leaders from Telangana to stage a dharna outside Modi’s residence and demand drought relief and adequate financial assistance for the State.
He asked what the BJP had secured for Telangana and Nirmal district despite having elected representatives from the State. He criticised its leaders for remaining silent on the proposed sale of the CCI factory in Adilabad and the failure to establish a Navodaya Vidyalaya in Nirmal.
While concerns over the deletion of voters’ names were being raised across the country, BJP leaders in Nirmal were organising rallies in support of the Election Commission, he alleged.
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KTR accused the Congress government of betraying farmers, youth, women, Dalits and minorities, including Imams. He asked how the government had accumulated nearly ₹4.5 lakh crore in debt in three years without implementing its electoral promises.
He alleged that Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima had been neglected, farmers were facing fertiliser shortages, paddy procurement was delayed and the promised bonuses for all crops had not been delivered. Power cuts had returned, affecting farmers and damaging agricultural motors, he said.
KTR also accused the Congress government of deliberately neglecting major irrigation projects for political reasons. The Palamuru-Rangareddy project, which was nearly 90% complete, had been stalled, while the government was neglecting Kaleshwaram, he alleged.
He asked why nearly 1,000 TMC of Telangana’s rightful share of Godavari and Krishna waters was being allowed to flow downstream. Citing Pattiseema and water supply to Kuppam, he asked why Andhra Pradesh’s projects were receiving water while Palamuru and Nirmal were facing drought.
The crisis was not merely a natural drought but had been aggravated by the failure of those in power to use available water resources, he said.
KTR cited the initiatives taken during the BRS government under KCR, including Mission Kakatiya, which revived 46,000 tanks, abolition of water cess, 24-hour power supply, 11 instalments of Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and decentralised paddy procurement.
He also recalled the irrigation projects built across the Krishna and Godavari rivers and the procurement of every grain of paddy, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlighting initiatives for tribal communities, he cited the conversion of tribal habitations into gram panchayats, distribution of 4.5 lakh acres of Podu land titles and enhancement of ST reservations from 6 percent to 10 percent.
He also referred to Mission Bhagiratha, rural infrastructure development and pensions for 63,000 beedi workers as achievements of the previous government.
KTR raised the issue of ₹12,000 crore in pending fee reimbursement dues and the unfulfilled promise of a ₹5 lakh Vidya Bharosa Card. He also flagged pending PRC and DA for government employees, retirement benefits and the sale of government lands.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
