Congress to target Telangana Rashtra Samithi

Hyderabad:  The Congress, the principal Opposition party, has demanded that the Chandrasekhar Rao government issue a white paper on the status of its revenues.

The government should explain how it proposes to mobilise at least Rs 1.7 lakh crore to fund some of the flagship schemes that it has announced, the party said.

They include Rs 50,000 crore for SC welfare, Rs 25,000 crore for BC welfare, Rs 5,000 crore for minorities welfare, Rs 20,000 crore for Mission Kakatiya, Rs 35,000 crore for Water Grid and Rs 25,000 crore for Grama Jyothi,” he said.

“The CM should specify whether he plans to borrow money, sell government land or increase taxes for his schemes. He has already turned Telangana from a revenue surplus state to a bankrupt state,” the Congress leader said. “At least now he should adopt a realistic and transparent approach.”

Describing the Grama Jyothi programme, to be launched by Mr Rao on August 17, as “old wine in a new bottle,” Mr Mohammed Shabbir Ali, leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, demanded that the state government explain the status of the earlier scheme, Mana Vooru, Mana Pranalika, launched in July last year which was also on the same lines.

“Tell me what’s the difference between the two. You promised to spend Rs 14,658 crore on Mana Vuru, Mana Pranalika and even gave the break-up but not even 20 per cent of these funds was spent and the entire scheme has turned out to be a damp squib despite spending crores of rupees on its publicity,” Mr Shabbir Ali said.

He said there were umpteen instances of the Chief Minister’s dual mindset. “He speaks one thing today and swallows his own words later,” Mr Shabbir Ali said.

“He (Mr Rao) says on one day that the Osmania General Hospital building would be demolished but later the government tells the High Court that it was yet to take a final decision on the issue,” the Congress leader said.

Demolition of illegal structures, shifting of the Chest Hospital and the Secretariat, draining the Hussainsagar, construction of skyscrapers, change in alignment of Metro Rail, construction of Telangana Kala Bharathi at Indira Park, acquisition of Parade Ground land, Intensive Household Survey, taking over the Osmania University land are some of the examples which prove that Mr Rao is making insane statements,” Mr Shabbir Ali said. Mr Rao’s beheviour has been creating confusion among the people, he said.