Karimnagar: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Monday said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was the one who opposed the BJP-led Centre’s decision to fix meters to agricultural pump sets, as acknowledged by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently.
Addressing a roadshow in Huzurabad, he said: “If farmers want meters for their motors, then they can vote for BJP candidate Etala Rajendar. Otherwise, they should vote for BRS candidate Padi Koushik Reddy.”
On the day, the minister took part in rallies and roadshows at Peddapalli, Dharmapuri, Chennur, Huzurabad, and Mulugu Assembly constituencies, with large crowds flocking to each meeting, especially at Sulthanabad in Peddapalli and in Huzurabad.
Continuing his attack on the BJP, Rama Rao said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the run-up to the 2014 polls, had asked people to open Jan Dhan bank accounts and that he promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh each.
“If people got Rs 15 lakh from the BJP government, then they can vote for Etala Rajendar and those who got Rs 10 lakh under the Dalit Bandhu scheme should vote for Koushik Reddy. After winning the elections, Etala Rajendar will go to Delhi and will not bother about the people. If people elect Koushik Reddy, then the potential of Huzurabad will be realized, with enormous development,” he said.
Rama Rao employed his father’s rhetoric of national parties being disinterested in local affairs. “The Delhi leaders of both the Congress and BJP, by attacking Telangana state, are trying to kill the voice of Chief Chandrashekar Rao, the only one who is working hard for Telangana people. If people hand over power to Delhi leaders, they will face a lot of problems and lag behind in development,” he said.
Rama Rao, citing Congress' complaint with the Election Commission of India to stop the Rythu Bandhu scheme, warned the public against voting for the party, claiming Congress would do away with the scheme if given the chance to form the government.
“Congress leaders are urging the people to give one chance, but in 11 chances, they did not supply drinking water and electricity, did not sanction pensions properly and without implementing welfare schemes, drove the people to a miserable life,” Rama Rao said.
He said that in contrast, the BRS took a people-first approach. “The BRS is the only government that is giving PF to its employees, unlike 16 other states in the country. After 10 days, with the formation of the BRS government again, by suspending the establishment of an ethanol factory at Sthambampally, a new agricultural college will established in its place and will sanction Dalit Bandhu to all eligible beneficiaries.”
He said: “In the past 55 years, the Congress played with the lives of the Telangana people and their children without giving statehood. But Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao fought bravely against all parties and finally achieved the separate Telangana state.”
He accused TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy of being anti-farmer. “TPCC president Revanth Reddy said that since many farmers in the state have only three acres of land, it would be enough to supply just three hours of power for irrigation. He also said that Rythu Bandhu would not be applicable for the tenant farmers.”
“CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that the Congress will throw Dharani into the Bay of Bengal and former PCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the BRS government is wasting money by sanctioning Rythu Bandhu,” Rama Rao said.
Appealing to the public to decide whether they wanted Congress, instead of a 24-hour power supply Rythu Bandhu, said: “If you want to face problems, you can choose Congress, but if you want to live a happy life, you must then choose the BRS.”
