BJP leaders take dig at CM on chopper trip to flood-hit areas

Hyderabad: Amid Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s visit to flood-affected areas on Sunday, BJP leaders alleged that this was the first time the CM was spotted outside his camp office and sought concrete measures to prevent disruption to daily life due to calamities.

BJP OBC Morcha national president K. Laxman, who is also an MP, alleged that the Chief Minister had previously not visited flood-hit areas in Hyderabad and Warangal over the years, suggesting political intentions behind his Sunday visit.

“The Chief Minister decided to take a tour to rain-hit places in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district after Governor Soundararajan Tamilasai scheduled to visit the flood-hit places. The Chief Minister must announce compensation to people after reviewing the flood situation in the districts. If the Chief Minister makes allegations against the BJP government in Centre, we will not spare the Chief Minister for making politics of a flood situation,” Laxman said.

Seeking a white paper from the state government on financial assistance, Laxman said, “The Minister K. T. Rama Rao made promises to people when Warangal and Hyderabad cities were submerged due to rains a few years ago. But, no promise was fulfilled by the government.”

Meanwhile, BJP MLA T. Raja Singh sought to know the details of Rs 1,000 crore allotted by the Centre for Telangana during previous calamities. “Where have the funds gone, without spending for victims?” Raja Singh asked.

He said the CM used a chopper “as he was scared” and sought monetary compensation for victims this time around.

BJP national vice president D.K. Aruna alleged that the Kadem project and Kaleshwaram pumps were submerged due to negligence of the state government. “The Chief Minister has failed to take precautionary measures or respond to the flood situation,” she said, claiming that the TRS MLAs and ministers were, instead, posing for pictures at flood-hit places without rescuing victims.