In a bid to exert pressure on the Centre to set up a Chilli Board in Khammam, home to Telangana’s second biggest chilli market yard, the CPI district council and the Telangana Rythu Sangham jointly organised a dharna at the Agriculture Market Yard in Khammam on Tuesday.
Police thwarted an attempt by the demonstrators to lay siege to the market yard.
Addressing the demonstration in front of the market yard, Telangana State Rythu Sangham president B. Hemantha Rao said the sharp fall in prices of chilli compared to last year left the chilli growers in distress.
The government should immediately intervene to ensure procurement of chilli at ₹25,000 a quintal and set up a Chilli Board to find a permanent solution to the woes of chilli farmers, he demanded.
Earlier in the day, the members of CPI (M) affiliated Rythu Sangham staged a demonstration at the Agriculture Market to press for their charter of demands.
Their main demands include procurement of chilli jointly by the NAFED and MARKFED at ₹25,000 per quintal and establishment of a Chilli Board in Khammam.
Rythu Sangham State president M. Ramesh and secretary Bonthu Rambabu led the demonstration.
Published – February 18, 2025 06:13 pm IST
