Hyderabad: The BJP has stepped up its attack on the TRS government, the woes of the chilli farmers giving it the perfect weapon to do so. Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya demanded the state government sanction Rs 250 crore for purchase of chilli from the farmers in distress after the Centre fixed Rs 5,000 per quintal as a one-time market intervention price due to the glut in the market.

“Farmers took up chilli sowing due to encouragement from Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and ministers. But the government did not inform the Centre about this. TRS government should immediately release the money under the MIS and purchase the chilli,” he said.

Stating that the Centre would stand by the farmers, Dattatreya asked the TS government to take immediate steps to solve their problems. He also asked government to withdraw cases against the farmers.

Meanwhile, TS BJP chief K. Laxman went hammer and tongs against the TRS government, accusing it of backing brokers in market yards. He said that the BJP will visit the Warangal and Khammam market yards and study the plight of farmers.