Hyderabad: Launching a scathing attack on ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that “land, sand, wine and mine (mining) mafias” were ruling the roost in Telangana under Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's regime over the past nine years.
Addressing a public meeting after flagging off the Congress’ Vijayabheri Bus Yatra at Ramappa Temple in Mulugu district on Wednesday, she alleged that the BRS government looted thousands of acres of government land and allotted land parcels in Rangareddy district by removing them from land records.
She said that the BRS came to power in 2014 and 2018 by promising ‘Bangaru Telangana’ but “only the families of BRS leaders turned golden”, accusing the BRS of looting land parcels from Dalits and STs, under the pretext of projects, allotted by the Congress.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra started her speech by paying tribute to Srikanta Chary, a student who self-immolated for the demand of a separate Telangana in 2009.
“Congress president Sonia Gandhi took a decision to accord statehood to Telangana to fulfil people's dreams of achieving development, social justice and employment. Telangana people elected BRS in Assembly polls with a belief that their dreams will be fulfilled. But the BRS government has shattered the dreams of people in the past nine years with its misrule and corruption,” she said.
The Congress leader alleged that the BRS government was only interested in protecting the interests of ‘mafias’ and least bothered about the development of the state or the welfare of its people.
“Social justice has gone for a toss under BRS regime. In the 18-member Telangana Cabinet, three are from the CM's family. There is no adequate representation to BCs, SCs and STs,” she said.
She said that the Congress has devised a roadmap and vision for Telangana.
“There are nearly 40 lakh unemployed in Telangana. BRS promised one job to every household. But lakhs of jobs are lying vacant in the past nine years. Students, youths and unemployed persons are depressed and committing suicides. When a girl committed suicide recently, the BRS government, instead of addressing the issue, resorted to character assassination and pointing fingers at her,” Priyanka said, referencing the police claims that 23-year-old Pravalika died by suicide due to relationship troubles and not because of the cancellation of TSPSC exams.
She read out the six guarantees of the Congress, explaining in detail the benefits. She also promised 18 per cent reservations to STs and 12 per cent reservations to SCs in Telangana.
