More than 25,000 farmers had committed suicide during the earlier regime of Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu between 1995 and 2004, thanks to his anti-farmer policies. This was disclosed by Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rejender on Monday. Etela said that the TDP had no moral right to criticise the TRS Government on the issue of farmers’ issue.

He reminded that Naidu had described agriculture as a waste business. He said that the TDP leaders should look at their history before commenting on the TRS rule. He ridiculed the TDP leaders saying they had forgotten the history which left a blot on their ruling. “Was it not then Naidu Government which used police force to kill farmers at Basheerbagh during his regime?

Instead of pressing Naidu to abstain from coming in the way of power supply to Telangana, the TDP leaders taking up bus yatras shamelessly”, he charged. Rajender said even today, Naidu, at the behest of the Centre, was adopting anti- Telangana policies. He warned that the TDP leaders will face public ire and revolt if they failed to change their adamant attitude.

Indeed, the people of the region taught the TDP a lesson in 2004 and even now it is facing a similar fate, he added. Rajender also accused the BJP of taking up a campaign of “India Shining” at a time when farmers were shedding their blood for adequate power, he said. The people of the region are totally aware of Chandrababu Naidu’s tricks and would revolt, he warned.