Tobacco farmers obstruct Union Minister's convoy

Ongole, Sep 18: Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industries, today visited the kin of the tobacco farmers who had committed suicides recently in Prakasam district. The Minister visited the kin of the farmers and consoled them. Nirmala Sitharaman along with Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao, Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao and TDP leader Karanam Balaram inspected tobacco auction process at Tobacco Auction Centre 1 in Ongole and interacted with farmers. The farmers complained the Minister about the malpractices of traders. The farmers blocked the convoy of the Minister alleging that she was returning without giving any specific assurance. The Minister will also visit Kandukuru and Tangutur regions in the district. Tobacco farmers urged the Minister to immediately resolve the crisis. YSRCP senior leader and Ongole MP YV Subba Reddy met Nirmala Sitharaman and submitted a representation seeking compensation to tobacco farmers.