BRS to boycott PM's visit to TS today: KTR

HYDERABAD: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will be boycotting the official event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Warangal on Saturday.

This was announced by the party’s working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao as the BJP-led government at the Centre had not fulfilled any of the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan here on Friday, Rao accused Modi of making adverse comments on the process adopted for the formation of Telangana right from the time he assumed office in 2014.

"How can the Prime Minister visit Telangana? How can Modi show his face to the people of Telangana? He recently went to Gujarat and inaugurated a locomotive rail coach factory costing ₹20,000 crore whereas he is to inaugurate a rail wagon manufacturing unit in Telangana that is worth a mere ₹521. Modi has failed to set up the Kazipet rail coach factory, Bayyaram steel plant and a tribal university, each of which has been promised to the state. Our decision to boycott PM's programmes is to register our protest on these issues," Rao said.

Meanwhile, he came down heavily against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his promise to extend ₹4,000 monthly pension to senior citizens if his party is voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.

"In what capacity is he (Rahul) making promises in Telangana? Is he the Congress president or the party's state president or an MP? Why should one take his promises seriously?" he wondered.

Rama Rao also slammed TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy for levelling allegations against him (Rama Rao) with regard to the Dharani portal.

"Revanth says the Dharani portal is in the hands of foreign players. But he should know that his party itself is in the hands of foreigners. Revanth is a blackmailer, who misused the Right to Information (RTI) as the Right to Income (RTI). Since the launch of Dharani, blackmailers like him have no scope to manipulate and make money. His opposition stems from frustration," the minister said.

Meanwhile, he announced to donate one month's salary of every BRS elected representative, around 150 in all, amounting to rupees three crores to the kin of two young BRS leaders, who died of a heart attack recently.

"Our MLAs, MLCs and MPs will donate ₹1.5 crore to the kin of singer Sai Chand and an equal amount to the kin of Mulugu zilla parishad chairman Kusuma Jagadish," Rao said.