In a fiery address on Tuesday, YSR Congress Party chief and former Andhra Pradesh CM Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on the Telugu Desam Party government led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing it of turning a blind eye to the worsening plight of farmers.
Reddy pointed to the crash in onion prices, now selling at a shocking ₹3 per kilogram, as proof of the government’s neglect. “What are you doing, Mr. Naidu?” he asked, slamming the chief minister for failing to safeguard the backbone of the state’s agriculture sector.
The collapse in onion prices has left farmers reeling, compounding existing challenges of rising input costs and unstable markets. Many cultivators now face mounting debts and despair, with farmer suicides reportedly on the rise.
Calling for urgent intervention, Reddy demanded a comprehensive support package including fair crop pricing, accessible credit, and effective crop insurance. He stressed that the crisis was not just an economic issue but a humanitarian one, threatening the very fabric of rural Andhra Pradesh.
As farmer unrest grows, the political implications are significant. Observers say the issue could become a decisive factor in the next elections, with rural voters demanding accountability. For now, all eyes are on Naidu’s administration to see whether it delivers tangible relief measures.
Reddy’s sharp criticism has resonated widely with the farming community, amplifying calls for a farmer-first governance model. With agriculture at a breaking point, the pressure on the ruling government is intensifying by the day.
