On Monday TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that nearly 17,000 farmers have committed suicide in the State since 2004.

Talking to reporters after holding a round-table conference in the national capital, the TDP chief alleged that the Congress party has completely ignored the welfare of farmers.

He alleged that nearly 17,000 farmers have committed suicide since the Congress party came to power in 2004.

Naidu said that farmers have stopped agriculture production on nearly 3 lakh acres of land in different districts in the State. He said the farmers were forced to declare Crop Holiday after they failed to get remunerative prices for their produce.

He said farmers in many districts were considering giving up the profession due to continuous losses that they have been suffering because of improper Minimum Support Price for their produce.

The TDP chief that the thousands of farmers in the drought-hit districts have been living in misery and the state government has failed to provide required assistance to them.

He said the TDP has decided to introduce a No Confidence Motion against the government primarily to highlight the plight of farmers in the State.

When asked about the CBI probe ordered by the High Court against his alleged illegal assets, Naidu reiterated that he would not challenge the High Court in the Supreme Court.

However, he said some businessmen named in the court orders might go to the Supreme Court to stall the probe.