The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), till now mostly confined to Hyderabad raising its voice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation drive, has not spread to all districts, mainly focusing farmers. Accusing that it has negative impact on the agriculture sector affecting the sowing process, TPCC Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the sowing area was reduced to 46 %.

Speaking at a massive dharna held in Suryapet, he said according to a rough estimate, as against the normal sowing area of 12.07 lakh hectares in Telangana State, the sowing area, as on January 4, got reduced to 5.57 Lakh Ha. He fears that this would have a consequent effect on agricultural production leading to shortage of food grains and other commodities in the next few months. He said that the demonetisation has dealt a severe blow to the rural economy.

Strongly condemning Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for supporting the demonetisation move, he alleged him of giving preference to political gains over the interest of Telangana people. He said almost all sectors were badly hit due to note ban and instead of doing an honest assessment of the situation, the Chief Minister was busy praising Modi. He said that the demonetisation has badly affected not only marriages, but also funerals.

Former Home Minister Sabita Indira Reddy said that Centre failed to tell the country as to what it has achieved in 50 days of note ban. Speaking at the party’s protests programme at the Ranga Reddy district Collectorate, she said that the government did not disclose as to how much money was deposited in the banks and as to how much black money was unearthed or as to how many black money hoarders were caught due to demonetization.