Hyderabad: Ministers K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao and several other BRS leaders reacted sharply to the allegations levelled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the state government.
Referring to Modi’s criticism in his Warangal public meeting that the BRS government was indulging in 'corruption' and 'family rule' in Telangana and that central investigation agencies were probing those irregularities, Rama Rao said, "We will not fear central investigation agencies unleashed by Modi. This is not the government or leadership which will be cowed down by such threats or warnings."
In a media statement here on Saturday, Rama Rao said, "A rail coach factory in Kazipet is a 45-year-old dream of the people of Telangana. This project was promised in the state bifurcation Act. But Modi snatched this project and set it up in his home state Gujarat with an investment of ₹20,000 crore. Now, he laid the foundation for setting up a railway wagon repair shop in Warangal with an investment of ₹520 crore. With this move, the Prime Minister has insulted Telangana."
Rama Rao ridiculed him for talking about unemployment in Telangana.
"Modi holds the dubious distinction of creating the highest unemployment in the country's history. One who has failed to fill 16 lakh vacancies in central government departments is pointing fingers at the Telangana government which has filled 2.20 lakh government jobs."
Instead of attacking the state government, he could have asked Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who shared the dais with him, to clear the bill pertaining to universities common recruitment board and urged her not to obstruct recruitments in state by blocking bills that have been passed by the Legislature.
Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting in Narsapur in Medak district, Harish Rao said, Modi gave peppermint candy (rail wagon factory of ₹500 crore) to Telangana when Parliament asked him to give laddu (₹20,000 crore rail coach factory). He is praising Telangana's schemes and development in Delhi and criticising us in the gully (streets)."
He asked the Prime Minister to answer why his government was giving highest awards to Telangana in several sectors if he felt its performance was poor. "Why is he copying all our schemes and implementing them at the national level with different names? This in itself shows who is efficient and who is not."
Former MP B. Vinod Kumar said that Modi has openly admitted BJP's defeat in Telangana in the upcoming polls.
"He normally showers sops in poll-bound states. He makes big announcements on funds and projects. But in the Warangal meeting, there was nothing which Modi offered or announced. This is because he has realised that there are no winning chances for BJP in Telangana."
