Staying away from Central schemes, Telangana getting left behind: Prahlad Joshi

HYDERABAD: Telangana is getting left behind in development because of its Chief Minister who is reluctant to implement Central schemes, and not using the tens of thousands of crores of rupees sanctioned to the state for various projects by the Union government, Union minister for parliamentary affairs, coal and mines, Pralhad Joshi has said.

Addressing a press conference on day one of his three-day Parliament Pravas Yojana in Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, Joshi said, “I strongly feel K Chandrashekar Rao does not want to implement PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, and other schemes because he does not want welfare of people.”

Under the programme, Union ministers come spend three days in a single parliamentary constituency, meet people and party workers and leaders, and check on implementation of Central schemes and educate people on initiatives of the BJP government at the Centre.

He added: “If Telangana is not proactive because it does not have proper plans or schemes for the poor, then the people will teach the TRS a lesson.”

Joshi gave the example of railways. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 31,000 crore for various projects but the TRS government was not acquiring land for them. Funds given in 2017 for national highways, for instance in the case of Rs 928 crore for the Hyderabad-Bijapur highway, have not been used. “I am told that KCR does not want to acquire land because of his vested interests,” Joshi added.

Answering a question on minister K.T. Rama Rao’s on the falling rupee value, Joshi said, “Let him understand what is happening in the world like inflation, Ukraine war impact. In spite of that we are the fastest growing economy. They were partners in the UPA government and what was inflation at that time. In Telangana itself, what is the situation with regard to GSDP. People who are born with a golden spoon, his father is a politician and by virtue of that today he is a Minister and an MLA, he doesn’t understand what is the plight of the poor people.”