The Telugu Desam Party's Krishna district unit has asked the State government and the Centre to immediately allow export of rice and paddy from the district to other States so that there was sufficient space created for purchase of paddy from farmers.

The TDP district unit president Devineni Umamaheswara Rao sat on a dharna in front of the Food Corporation of India office, close to Old Bus stand in Governorpet here on Friday, demanding immediate shifting of stocks from the godowns by the FCI so that the millers could buy paddy.

Police forcibly lifted the TDP leader from the FCI office and took him to his house in Gollapudi, on the city outskirts. The FCI officials said it was not in their purview to resolve the problem and that it was for the district Collector and State government to initiate action.

Employees and officials of the FCI tried to pacify the TDP leader, saying it was a holiday for them for the next two days and something could be chalked out on Monday.

Showing the orders of the Joint Collector of April 17, Mr. Umamaheswara Rao said that the administration had announced opening of 21 purchase centres, but all of them were unable to buy paddy, forcing the farmers to resort to distress sale. Meanwhile, peeved at the Government inaction, the TDP district president said that farmer leaders of all parties from six districts would meet at Lorry Owners' Association premises in the city on Monday to discuss the future course of action.

Those who came to give support to the TDP leader's agitation at the FCI office included farmer leader Chalasani Anjaneyulu, MLAs Dasari Balavardhan Rao, Tangirala Prabhakar, and Thathaiah.