Modi Visit an Attempt to Split Votes in BRS' Favour, Says Revanth Reddy

HYDERABAD: TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy on Monday claimed the reason behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Telangana visits was to split the anti-incumbency vote to benefit the BRS. It was clear that the state polls would be a two-way contest between BRS and Congress and Prime Minister’s Telangana visits were an eyewash to create a false impression of a triangular contest, he claimed.

Referring to Modi’s back-to-back meetings in the state, Revanth Reddy told mediapersons at a press conference: “PM's Mahbubnagar visit fetched nothing for Telangana. He just announced turmeric board and tribal university as if they were new. The tribal university was promised in the AP Reorganisation Act in 2014 and turmeric board was promised by BJP MP D. Arvind during the 2019 elections.”

He claimed that Mahbubnagar district’s share of funds was lower than the spending on Modi's public meeting.

“We expected PM to fulfil pending promises of Hyderabad ITIR project, Kazipet rail coach factory, Bayyaram steel plant etc. We expected the PM to announce a major industrial project to provide jobs to Telangana youth. We expected PM to announce national project status to Palamur Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme. But there was no word from Modi on these issues,” Revanth Reddy said.

 “Is Modi the PM for India or Gujarat? He announces huge projects and funds for Gujarat but nothing for Telangana.”

The TPCC chief demanded that Telangana BJP leaders apologise for inviting Modi to the state. “It is unethical to hold a meeting with Modi, who insulted the formation of Telangana. There is a discussion about why G. Vivek, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Vijayashanti and Rajgopal Reddy did not attend Modi's meeting,” he said.

Revanth Reddy also questioned Modi’s silence on alleged corruption by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and his family members. “What prevented them from ordering probe by CBI or ED to inquire into these corruption charges? People of Telangana understood that there was a dark deal between BRS and BJP,” Revanth Reddy said.

Dubbing ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao as “Billa and Ranga”, Revanth Reddy said both were spreading lies on Congress’ six guarantees. “Congress was in power in several states then but these schemes were not there. Schemes are based on states' income and people’s needs. It’s foolish to compare with other states,” Revanth Reddy said.

“Congress implemented free electricity, Indiramma houses, Aarogyasri, farmer loan waiver, fee reimbursement and 4 per cent minority reservations in AP from 2004 to 2014,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Revanth Reddy paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, on his 154th birth anniversary, and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, on his 119th birth anniversary, at the Gandhi Bhavan.