HYDERABAD—A tense situation arose at the Kalwakurthy Agricultural Market in Nagarkurnool district when farmers from nearby villages protested against low prices for peanuts. The farmers had brought their produce to the market but were dissatisfied with traders who offered significantly lower prices compared to other markets.
The farmers claimed that while the support price in other market yards was approximately Rs. 7,500 per quintal, the traders at Kalwakurthy were offering only Rs. 5,400. Protesting this disparity, they gathered at the Hyderabad Chowrasta and staged a sit-in demonstration.
In response, KVN Reddy, a member of the Telangana State Agricultural Committee and a former ZPTC from Vangoor mandal, along with other Congress leaders and market committee officials, arrived at the scene to address the concerns. The farmers questioned Reddy about the promised “Rythu Bharosa” scheme and demanded justice, calling for either fair pricing or re-tendering of the procurement process.
As tempers flared, the farmers shouted slogans such as “This is a corrupt regime, a looters’ regime,” and “Down with the Chief Minister.” The situation became confrontational when KVN Reddy, frustrated by the slogans, allegedly tried to hit one of the protesting farmers.
The incident further enraged the farmers, who demanded to know if questioning the government’s policies warranted physical aggression. “How many farmers will you hit?” they asked.
The situation was eventually brought under control when the police intervened. Officers from Velugonda and Kalwakurthy police stations, along with members of the agricultural market committee, mediated with the farmers and convinced them to call off the protest. The Congress leaders were escorted from the area to avoid further escalation.
The protest highlights ongoing discontent among farmers over price discrepancies and the alleged exploitation by traders in local markets.
