Congress members today staged walk out in Telangana Legislative Council protesting against state government indifferent attitude towards payment of input subsidy to farmers and also raw deal being extended to farmers.

Leader of Opposition Mohammed Ali Shabbir deplored over abnormal delay in payment of input subsidy of Rs 1,080 crore for the years 2015-16. Though the Central government had paid its share of Rs 822 crore five months ago, he accused that the state is delaying to meet its share of Rs 198 crore.

Congress members disappointed with Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy’s response on release of input subsidy to drought-hit farmers staged walkout.

Later speaking to press persons, Shabbir Ali said the government had declared 332 Mandals as drought affected and sought Central funds. “Even though the Centre released money, the same has not been distributed. There is no point in merely issuing orders to banks without releasing the funds”, he said.

Earlier, the Minister refuted the Congress claim and said government had so far released Rs. 791 crore input subsidy to farmers. Accusing that during previous Congress regime lot of injustice was done to farmers, he recalled that during the 2013 drought, the then government released Rs. 700 crore to Chittoor, Cuddapah and Anantapur districts in AP while the drought hit Mehboobnagar and Nalgonda in Telangana got a measly Rs. 13 crore. Similarly on an earlier occasion, he said Prakasham, Nellore and other districts received Rs. 1,000 crore while Telangana was given just Rs. 134 crore.

The Minister clarified that not all the funds released by Centre were for input subsidy. They were also meant for urban and rural water supply. Without waiting for the Government of India money, the State government had spent Rs. 550 crore on drinking water supply for rural and urban areas, he added.