Hyderabad: The Centre has stated unequivocally that the whole paddy supply from Telangana could not be procured in rabi, as the state administration had sought.

The Telangana ministers' delegation, which met with Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal in Delhi on Thursday along with TRS MPs, was given a rude awakening when the minister made his choice apparent. According to official sources, Goyal lashed out the delegation for making 'meaningless and unreasonable' requests on the paddy procurement issue since November, despite the Centre explaining on numerous occasions that full paddy or boiling rice could not be procured from Telangana or any other state. Following the rejection, the TRS will begin agitation campaigns in all districts on Friday.

Goyal reminded them of the state government's agreement with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in 2021, which stated that cooked rice would no longer be supplied starting in rabi 2022. He was perplexed as to how they could make such senseless demands on Telangana's whole paddy harvest in rabi.

Following the meeting, Goyal spoke at a press conference, slamming the state administration for misleading farmers on paddy procurement and attempting to incite them against the BJP-led federal government by distorting facts. Despite numerous cautions, he blamed the state administration for failing to inform the Centre about the quantity of raw rice it would deliver to FCI in rabi.

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