Police lathicharge farmers protesting against power cuts in Telangana

Hyderabad: Police on Monday reportedly lathicharged farmers who were protesting against power cuts in Medak and Nizamabad districts in Telangana, evoking sharp reaction from BJP, Congress and other opposition parties.

“Farmers in Telangana are seriously worried over power cuts. Farmers held protests at electricity sub-stations against the power cuts. BJP severely condemns the lathi-charge on farmers who held protests at Pitlam in Nizamabad and Chegunta in Medak district,” Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy said in a statement.

Reddy demanded “unconditional” withdrawal of cases filed against farmers and also uninterrupted power supply to them.

Former CPI-M MLA J Ranga Reddy led a protest in Nalgonda district demanding that the problem of irregular power supply to farmers be addressed immediately.

Slamming TRS government on the issue, Congress leader Mohammed Shabbir Ali alleged that the state government talked big about realising a ‘Golden Telangana’ but did precious little for the farming community.

When contacted, state Agriculture Minister P Srinivasa Reddy said that though there are some problems in power supply, the government is trying to address the issue.

“Police need to observe restraint in dealing with such protests. The TRS government is farmer friendly and all efforts would be made to see that farmers do not suffer,” he added.

PTI