HYDERABAD: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) organised demonstrations across Telangana on Monday, intensifying its protest against the Centre's refusal to purchase grain from the state.

Leaders and cadres of the state's ruling party staged protests around the state, asking that the Centre buy all of the state's paddy during the current Rabi season. In all 33 districts, the party's ministers, MPs, state legislators, and other public figures took part in the protests.

Agriculture minister S. Niranjan Reddy, who led the Mahabubnagar district rally, said the party would escalate its protest in favour of the state government's genuine requests.

P. Ajay Kumar, the transport minister, led a protest on the highway at Manchukonda, Khammam district, while Gangula Kamalakar, the minister of civil supplies, led a protest in Karimnagar district.

TRS leaders have stated that their protest will continue until the Centre agrees to purchase all of Telangana's paddy, as is done in Punjab and other states. Protesters staged sit-ins, waving party flags and shouting slogans against the Narendra Modi government.

The mandal demonstrations were the first of five phases of the TRS's five-phase protests against the Centre over its unwillingness to acquire paddy.

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