Power by default' ruining India: Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao

Hyderabad: TRS Chief and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday launched a severe attack on the Congress and the BJP. He said that the people in the country were left with no option but to opt for either the BJP or the Congress at national-level since there is no better alternative. 

“The BJP and Congress are getting power by default. This default politics is not good for the country,” he said, while addressing the TRS Plenary session here.

Rao said that the parties that ruled the country for nearly 65 years in independent India should feel ashamed for the country lagging behind others in various sectors. The TRS Chief demanded an answer from the BJP and the Congress on why water for drinking and irrigation purpose could not be provided to the people despite availability of 70,000 TMCs of water in India.

He asked as to why the states were fighting for water and why the country has been lagging behind other countries such as China and Singapore  in terms of infrastructure, roads, express highways, ports, airports, GDP etc.

Rao charged successive Congress and BJP Governments at the Centre for bringing down the states to the level of municipalities. 

“Why should there be a concurrent list in the Constitution? Why should the Centre have control over subjects such as agriculture, health, education, housing, rural and urban development and drinking water supply? Those subjects and powers should be transferred to the states,” Rao said.

Citing the example of Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, the Telangana Chief Minister questioned the logic behind the Prime Minister involving himself in laying rural roads. “It can be done by the local sarpanch. Why should the Centre hold the key to workers’ wage payment under NREGA? The Centre can do better by concentrating on other issues such as safeguarding our borders and international diplomacy. Don’t poke your nose into state’s affairs,” he asserted.

Rao rubbished the claims of the Congress and the BJP on achieving a lot of progress in the last seven decades. He cited statistics to show how countries such as China, which were lagging behind India five decades ago, raced ahead in terms of infrastructural development, irrigation, GDP growth and per capita income.

“Do you consider this as development? Even now, we don’t have proper road and rail networks. A toilet at the New York railway station is much better than the whole of our Secunderabad railway station. Our airports do not have sufficient space to accommodate additional aircraft. Are we not ashamed to be compared to neighbouring countries?” he asked.

“Congress President Rahul Gandhi says KCR is a ‘Narendra Modi’ agent. The BJP leaders are saying that the Front doesn't even have a tent. If that is so, why are you afraid?” he asked.

No change in Cabinet likely

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday ruled out a reshuffle in his cabinet before the 2019 elections, and assured all sitting MLAs of tickets in the polls. In particular, Rao singled out irrigation minister T. Harish Rao for “working day and night” to complete irrigation projects, especially Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Ranga Reddy. 

“All our ministers and MLAs are doing well. There is no need to change the cabinet. There is also no need to deny tickets to our sitting MLAs,” said Rao, speaking at the 17th plenary of the Telangana Rashtra Samity (TRS).
Mr. Rao said the TRS government will ensure the safety and security of all Andhra residents in city, adding that all those residing in Hyderabad are ‘Hyderabadis’ and children of Telangana. “During the statehood agitation and 2014 elections, opposition parties ran a vicious campaign against us, saying if Telangana state was formed and TRS came to power, the safety and security of Seemandhra people in Telangana, especially in Hyderabad, wouldbe at risk. They said the assets of Seemandhra people would be taken away. But we have proved them wrong for four years.”

Rao said, “This hall which is hosting our plenary belongs to a native of Andhra, who settled in Hyderabad long ago. We appreciate him for this. Similarly, we appreciate all those living in Hyderabad and contributing to the growth of the city and development of Telangana. The TRS will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of nativity, caste, creed or religion.”