KHAMMAM: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday laid into the BRS-AIMIM relationship, accusing Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of keeping away from making the traditional offerings at the Sri Sita Ramaswamy temple in Bhadrachalam during the Ramanavami celebrations, fearing the wrath of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
Shah, the top-billed speaker at the much-looked forward-to BJP public meeting in Khammam, focused on how Chandrashekar Rao “gave the steering of the BRS’ car to AIMIM”, declaring: “KCR, with his association with AIMIM and the Owaisis for the past nine years, has trampled upon the sacrifices of thousands of people, including youth who fought for Telangana liberation and against the Razakaars.”
He said: “The countdown for the KCR government has started. Everyone knows KCR wants to make KTR the next CM, but neither KCR not KTR will be the next CM. The next Chief Minister of Telangana will be from the BJP, which will win the elections and gain full majority.”
Circling back to his accusation of Rao breaking the tradition at the Sri Rama temple in Bhadrachalam, Shah said: “KCR’s party symbol is the car. The car goes to Bhadrachalam, but does not go to the temple because the car’s steering is in Owaisi’s hands.”
He then, much to the delight of the crowd, said: “But KCR, do not worry. In the days to come, you will not have to think about this. Neither will you be the CM, not will your car go to Bhadrachalam. The next time, it will be a BJP CM who will carry lotuses and place the at the feet of Lord Sri Ram in the temple.”
Although the meeting was titled ‘Rythu Gosa-BJP Bharosa’, there was little in Shah’s speech that addressed problems faced by Telangana farmers, a topic which he appeared to have left for state BJP president and his colleague in the Central cabinet G. Kishan Reddy, who listed several problems faced by farmers in the state and gave an omnibus assurance that “if BJP government comes to power, it will take steps to solve the problems.”
Shah, who stuck to the BRS-Owaisi bonhomie topic, also dragged the Congress into the mix, taking aim at AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s speech at a public meeting in Chevella on Saturday. “Kharge said after polls, BJP and BRS will join hands. Khargeji, you know Owaisi sits with KCR. Whatever happens, BJP will never join hands with BRS and Owaisi. We will not even share the dais with MIM,” Shah said.
The Union minister then asked the crowd: “With the car steering in Owaisi’s hands, should KCR be made the CM again?”, eliciting a resounding response of “no!”
