On 28th August 2000, during the Chalo Assembly protest against increased electricity tariffs, police opened fire at Basheer Bagh, resulting in the deaths of three farmers. This protest was a significant event in Telangana’s history, highlighting the region’s dissatisfaction with government policies.
At the time of the incident, Chandrababu Naidu was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Following the firing, he faced severe criticism for neglecting Telangana’s irrigation needs. In response to the backlash, Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Devadula Lift Irrigation Project on the Godavari River in Warangal district in 2001. This move came soon after K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) announced the formation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party, further intensifying the demand for Telangana’s statehood.
In 2013, a Central government-appointed committee reported that 90% of Telangana farmers were caught in a severe debt crisis, with an average debt of ₹94,000 per farmer. The committee also highlighted the financial struggles faced by farmers, noting that their average monthly income ranged from ₹4,500 to ₹4,800, while their monthly expenditures were between ₹5,200 and ₹5,800. This 20% deficit pushed many farmers deeper into financial distress, further worsening the agrarian crisis in Telangana.
The Basheer Bagh Firings became a turning point in Telangana’s political and economic struggles, reinforcing the demand for statehood and exposing the deep financial crisis among farmers