Hyderabad, April 24 Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana unit president Bandi Sanjay on Friday sat on a day-long fast over farmers' issues at the party office here.
Bandi Sanjay, who is also an MP from Karimnagar, demanded that the state government address the problems faced by the farmers.
He urged the government to come to farmers' rescue by ensuring payment of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce. He alleged that the farmers are in distress as they are not being paid the MSP.
The BJP leader said Indira Kranti Patham (IKP) paddy procurement centres lack basic amenities, causing severe hardships to farmers. He alleged that officials themselves have become middlemen. "If the ministers visit the villages they will know the situation on the ground," he told reporters.
The BJP leader said the farmers in Sircilla set afire paddy as they were not getting MSP for it. He alleged that cases are being booked on farmers though they abide by the lockdown norms while staging the protest.
While Sanjay and a couple of other leaders are observing the fast at the BJP state headquarters, other leaders are staging the protest at their respective residences in view of the lockdown.
Meanwhile, ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader Kadiyam Srihari has termed the BJP state chief's dharna a drama. The former deputy chief minister said that Chandrashekhar Rao-led government is pro-farmer and it is taking several steps for their welfare.
( With inputs from IANS )