TS Polls: A Battle Between BRS Feudal Lords and Cong. Common Man, Says Rahul Gandhi

HYDERABAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the upcoming Assembly polls in Telangana a battle between “Dorala (feudal lords’) Telangana” and “Prajala (common man’s) Telangana”, likening it to a direct fight between the BRS and Congress.

Addressing a public meeting, after flagging off the Vijayabheri Bus Yatra following prayers at Ramappa Temple in Mulugu, Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP lost the Assembly polls in Telangana even before the election was held. “BJP wants its B-team BRS to win this election, for which MIM is also in support,” he said.

“The BJP government at the Centre is targeting all Opposition leaders in the country with CBI, ED and I-T raids and cases. There is not a single case or raid or inquiry against Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. This is the biggest proof of covert alliance between BRS and BJP. The BJP booked 24 cases against me, they removed my Lok Sabha membership and evicted me from my official residence,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Tailoring his speech to the locals, Rahul Gandhi promised to accord national status to the famous Sammakka Saralamma Jatara in Medaram of Mulugu district, on the lines of the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh.

He said that Sonia Gandhi granted statehood to Telangana despite knowing that the party would suffer huge political losses in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

“Usually, political parties take decisions keeping their political interests in mind. But Sonia ji granted statehood to Telangana to fulfil her promise made in 2004. Although the Congress did not come to power in Telangana, Sonia ji never regretted her decision as she was happy that she fulfilled the 60-year-old dream of the people of Telangana, for which several thousands of people, especially students, laid down their lives," Rahul Gandhi said.

He rapped Chandrashekar Rao for failing to follow through with poll promises over the past nine years.

Listing out unfulfilled demands, Rahul Gandhi said: “He (Rao) promised agriculture land for Dalits and Adivasis. He promised 3 acres to each Dalit family. He promised a government job to every household. He promised corruption-free administration. But in reality, he looted Rs 1 lakh crore in the guise of Kaleshwaram project. He encroached thousands of acres in the guise of Dharani portal. He promised 2BHK houses to the poor but failed to deliver. He promised Rs 1 lakh crop loan waiver, but failed to deliver.”

Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress governments in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh were implementing all the promises sincerely.

Stating that the ideologies of the Congress and the BJP were poles apart, Rahul said, “Congress and BJP can never join hands. We can never compromise with BJP. But BRS and BJP are the same. If you vote for BRS, it amounts to voting for the BJP,” Rahul said.

Urging voters to bring Congress to power in Telangana to realise their dreams and aspirations, for which they fought to achieve statehood, Rahul promised that the Congress would implement all six guarantees within 100 days of coming to power.