KTR challenges PM Modi to name one state that outperformed Telangana

Hyderabad: BRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to name a state that has outperformed Telangana over the last nine years in important metrics, including water, irrigation, ease of doing business, and economic indices. Rama Rao's challenge came in reaction to Modi's criticism of the Telangana government during a public meeting on Saturday at the Parade Ground in Secunderabad.

Rama Rao turned to Twitter to express his displeasure with Modi, listing 18 achievements of the Telangana government over the last nine years and stating that the PM had refused to recognise a performing state like Telangana and instead engaging in petty politics. The 18 achievements listed by Rama Rao include: State with highest per capita growth in India, first state to provide drinking water to all homes, state that completed world's largest lift irrigation project (Kaleshwaram), best rural development model in India; 100% open defecation free (ODF-Plus)  villages.

He listed a number of other areas where Telangana outperformed most states, such as being the second-highest paddy producer, the highest number of IT jobs created, the highest green cover growth (7.7 per cent), the state with the second-highest number of awards (26 for municipalities), among the top-four states contributing to the GDP, the state with the best industrial policy, and the state housing India's largest textile park, the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park (KMTP).

The minister also stated that Telangana remained the world's vaccine hub, the state with the highest per capita power consumption, the second largest renewable energy producer, the state with one of the lowest Debt-GSDP ratios. He said Mercer,a consulting firm, had rated Hyderabad as the best Indian city five years in a row (2015-20), the state with the lowest corruption in India according to the most recent CSDS survey, and the state that has won many international awards.

"Yet the PM of India has not a single word of appreciation!! Refused to acknowledge a performing state for petty politics. Narendra Modi ji, I challenge you to name a state that has performed better all round than Telangana in the last 9 years,” Rama Rao said in his tweet.

In another tweet, Rama Rao questioned the BJP-led government at the Centre for adopting different rules and standards to different states when it comes to coal mine allocation. Tagging a news clip on the Centre removing Tamil Nadu mines from the coal blocks auction list following strong objection from state parties, Rama Rao tweeted, "This is exactly what we have been demanding even today for Singareni Collieries. That 4 coal mines of Telangana be removed from the auction list and allocated directly to Singareni. Why different rules for different states in the same country?"

18 feathers in Telangana’s cap

Minister K.T. Rama Rao lists 18 achievements of the Telangana government for Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Highest per capita growth

Highest green cover growth (7.7%)

Highest number of IT jobs created

Highest per capita power consumption

Second largest renewable energy producer

Top four contributors to GDP

Best industrial policy

Largest textile park, the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park (KMTP)

Vaccine hub

Lowest Debt-GSDP ratio

Rated best Indian city five years in a row (2015-20)

First to provide drinking water to all homes

Completed world's largest lift irrigation project at Kaleshwaram

Best rural development model in India

Second-highest number of awards (26) for municipalities

100% open defecation free (ODF-Plus) villages

Second-highest paddy producer

Lowest corruption according to CSDS survey