The yatras meant to create awareness among farmers were scheduled to be held from May 17 to 29 in 10 districts where bypolls are to be held.
Talking to mediapersons here, the minister said the EC decision to put the programme on hold smacked of a dictatorial attitude.
“They (the EC) are not looking at it from the farmers’ perspective,” he said. “The Congress, the state government and the EC have nothing to lose but 1.5 lakh farmers’ families will be put to inconvenience.” As part of the rythu chaitanya yatra, officials from agriculture and allied departments were supposed to visit farmers and guide them on modern agricultural practices.
Mr Raghuveera Reddy said the government had even told the EC that it would do away with the regular practice of having a people’s representative to inaugurate the programme.
He criticised the EC’s contention that the programme could be conducted after the polls and said that timely action was imperative in agriculture. “By June, farmers will take up agricultural operations and there will be no use in educating them,” he said. “The EC is depriving the farmers of their right to get guidance from scientists.” Mr Raghuveera Reddy wondered how dissemination of scientific tips would amount to luring of voters.
On the contrary, the EC permitted the government to give input subsidy to farmers. “Will this not amount to luring?” he asked. When asked whether it was right for a minister to criticise a constitutional body, Mr Raghuveera Reddy said he had the right to express the government’s displeasure.
“What will they do?” he said. “Will they put me in jail? I am ready to go there.” The minister said though the government did not receive any communication so far, media reports clearly indicated the EC’s approach. He appealed to the EC to reconsider its decision. The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr I.V. Subba Rao, refused to react to the minister’s criticism but said that EC was a constitutional body on the lines of the Assembly and Parliament and it had a mandate to implement rules and regulations. He made it clear that there was no intimation so far from the EC on rythu chaitanya yatras.