Puthalapattu (Chittoor): Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is ensuring the closure of cooperative sugar mills and dairy in the district by promoting private factories, Leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

Addressing a public meeting here on Monday as part of the Praja Sankalpa Yatra, he said there are six sugar mills in the district of which two are in the cooperative sector - Chittoor and Renigunta sugar mills. However, Chandrababu is systematically preventing the farmers from getting any benefit by laying obstacles at every stage, he said. The YSRCP chief listed out the areas that are cost intensive for the farmers. "Firstly, the farmers have to incur huge expense for the crop. Secondly, when they try to sell to sugar factories the cooperative units are unable to purchase and the private ones quote low prices. In such a situation, the farmers are forced to sell for a loss to the private factories. The Chittoor and Renigunta sugar units were on the verge of closure during Chandrababu's previous tenure. However, late YS Rajasekhara Reddy provided financial help and ensured their revival much to the relief of the farmers. However, in the current tenure of the TDP leader, he is again working for their closure," YS Jagan said.

Similar is the situation with Chittoor Dairy, he said. "The members of the Chittoor Dairy are TDP men who are preventing payments to the farmers for supply of milk to the cooperative units. Faced with no option the farmers are forced to sell the milk to Chandrababu-owned Heritage factory. This way he is promoting his own companies at the cost of the farmers," the YSRCP chief said.

He thanked the people of Chittoor and Puthalapattu in particular for joining the padayatra despite the relentless weather.