'Farmers Can Change Governments if They Want': Telangana CM KCR in Chandigarh

As a part of his India tour, KCR met the families of deceased farmers and soldiers and gave them financial support.

KCR addressing the families of farmers and soldiers in Chandigarh.

(Twitter: CMO Telangana)

Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao, along with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal reached Chandigarh on the afternoon of Sunday, 22 May, after their meeting in Delhi.

At an event in the city, KCR paid tributes to farmers who lost their lives during the prolonged farmers protest against the three farm laws and soldiers in Galwan Valley. He handed cheques as financial support to their families.

KCR reached Chandigarh on Sunday as part of his week-long tour to visit several other states.The Telangana CM had arrived in Delhi on Friday.

In Chandigarh, the two CMs were accompanied by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. Rakesh Tikait, the spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union and prominent leader of the farmers protest at the Ghazipur border, was also present at the event.

KCR had earlier announced that he will be lending financial support to the families of the deceased farmers and would give Rs 3 lakh each to 600 families from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

What Did KCR Say?

Speaking about the farmers who protested for over a year on three primary sites at the Ghazipur, Tikri, and Singhu border, KCR said that Arvind Kejriwal is lucky to have received a chance to serve these farmers.

"We would always support our farmer brothers and sisters. We cannot bring back those who have died but we are with you in this pain."

K Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Minister, Telangana

"Before Telangana became state, a lot of farmer issues persisted. Farmers were dying by suicide. We are improving, giving farmers free electricity. Centre is asking us to impose electricity bills, put metres. We would die but not install metres," said KCR.

He spoke of how protesting farmers were called Khalistanis and terrorists and requested the farmers' leaders to continue this protest, "not just in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and UP but across the country".

"Farmers can change governments if they want."

K Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Minister, Telangana

Speaking about the farmers at the event, Kejriwal said that the farmer's agitation was for the entire country, not just for the farmers of Punjab or Haryana, according to ANI.

"The central government wanted to convert stadiums into jails to arrest farmers, but I did not give permission for this," he added.

He also said that he bows down to farmers who laid down their lives to protects the fields of this country and the soldiers who did the same for the motherland.

KCR Meets Kejriwal In Delhi

Earlier in the afternoon on Sunday, KCR met CM Kejriwal at his residence in Delhi. Kejriwal gifted KCR a statue of Radha Krishna and a model of a veena, at this meeting. After the meet, both CMs left for Chandigarh together.

On Saturday, KCR, Kejriwal and Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had visited Sarvodaya School in Moti Bagh, Delhi, where they interacted with students.

The two chief ministers also visited a Mohalla clinic in Mohammadpur which was Aam Aadmi Party's initiative in the city. Sisodia also accompanied them.

KCR was happy to see the facilities, Kejriwal tweeted. "India will only progress if we learn from the good work of each other."

KCR had also met Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday.

As a part of this tour, KCR is set to visit Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Bihar where he will meet political leaders, activists, farmers, and soliders.

(This story contains inputs from PTI and ANI.)