BRS will continue to fight for Telangana's interests: KTR

HYDERABAD: BRS Working President K Tarakarama Rao stated that the BRS party would continue to fight for Telangana's interests and secure its due share from the Union Budget.

During a discussion in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday about the perceived injustices towards Telangana in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, KTR strongly condemned the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre for not allocating funds to the state. He challenged the Congress to justify what their MPs had achieved for the state, suggesting that the current discussion was an attempt to cover up their failures. KTR called for sincere efforts from Congress MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha while assuring that BRS MPs would also work together to advocate for Telangana's interests.

KTR mentioned that the BRS has been highlighting injustices against Telangana for the past ten years. He noted that Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu echoed this sentiment. Responding to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's remarks about the absence of Leader of Opposition K Chandrashekhar Rao in the House, KTR stated that KCR's presence was unnecessary as his party's MLAs were capable of participating in the debate.

The BRS MLA sought clarification on whether the government was conducting a short discussion or passing a resolution, noting that no resolution copies were provided to MLAs. He emphasised that the BRS fully supports the government's discussion on the injustices faced by Telangana in the budget and would cooperate in the state's interests.

KTR criticised Revanth Reddy for stating that he became a minister through a 'management quota,' countering that Revanth Reddy became Chief Minister through a 'payment quota.' He suggested that Revanth Reddy's comments about the management quota seemed to refer to Rahul Gandhi, who became a leader due to his father's legacy.

Expressing strong discontent over the marginalisation of Telangana's issues in the Lok Sabha, KTR drew a parallel to the past when the term "Telangana" was banned in united Andhra Pradesh. He pointed out that despite having eight Congress and eight BJP MPs, ongoing injustices against Telangana have not been prevented. KTR emphasised that these issues have persisted for ten years, with KCR continuously fighting for justice.

KTR criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for referring to Prime Minister Modi as "Bade Bhai" during a speech in Hyderabad, suggesting a willingness to align with the central government. He argued that the central leadership's philosophy perpetuates injustice towards Telangana, regardless of the assurances given.

Despite the lack of cooperation from the Centre, KTR praised the achievements of the previous BRS government and urged the current Congress government not to claim credit for accomplishments initiated by the BRS, particularly in job creation. He reaffirmed the BRS's commitment to defending Telangana's interests and ensuring that the state receives its due recognition and resources.

KTR stressed that, according to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh should benefit. He expressed disappointment over the lack of funds provided to Telangana while acknowledging that there is no issue in assisting the neighbouring state. He stated that the BRS would constantly challenge any injustices against Telangana.

He recounted the early days following Telangana's formation when seven mandals were merged into Andhra Pradesh, highlighting that KCR was the first to protest this decision and even called for a state strike. KCR also demanded special status for Telangana and financial assistance exceeding one lakh crore rupees.

KTR mentioned that the state government had appealed to the Centre for support on various issues. While some efforts succeeded, others did not yield the desired outcomes. He pointed out that the Assembly passed resolutions against several central decisions concerning the CAA, NRC, and electricity reforms. Additionally, the BRS protested in the Lok Sabha over the failure to establish a coach factory in Kazipet and advocated for an OBC population census.

He mentioned that a dharna was organised against the three controversial farm laws introduced by the BJP Government. KTR expressed concern over the unfulfilled promise of the Bayyaram steel factory, noting that despite repeated requests from the CM and other leaders, Telangana had not been given justice.

KTR recalled the words of Prof. Jayashankar, who emphatically emphasised that real achievements come from ruling, not begging. He urged the people to adopt this mindset, stressing that the BRS has always worked in the best interests of Telangana, regardless of the Centre's cooperation. He cited the successful effort to secure the division of the High Court as an example of their dedication. KTR also mentioned the recent suspension of the Krishna Tribunal case for ten years, expressing doubt that the central government would act unless pressured.

He criticised the BJP-led central government for neglecting Telangana's needs, including the lack of funding for the Mulugu Tribal University and the failure to grant national project status to state projects. Despite this, KTR highlighted that during its tenure, the BRS government accomplished significant infrastructure projects independently. He noted that Telangana is unique in achieving 95 per cent local reservation, asserting the state's ownership over its jobs.

KTR pointed out that the BRS protested when the central government proposed a wagon factory instead of a coach factory. He expressed disappointment over the unfulfilled promise of the Bayyaram steel factory, calling for a united fight on this issue. He also criticised the Centre for not allocating a single medical college to Telangana out of 156 new colleges nationwide, contrasting this with KCR's initiative to establish one medical college per district.

The BRS MLA addressed the state's lack of a Navodaya school, mentioning that the BRS government instead established thousands of Gurukula schools. He condemned the attempt to privatise Singareni, stating that the BRS successfully opposed this move. He criticised Union Minister Kishan Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka for their apparent indifference when auctioning the Singareni mines.

KTR warned against the metering of motors and the potential handover of electricity distribution to the Adani company. He emphasised that the BRS did not compromise on its principles, even in difficult situations, and urged others not to compromise. He strongly opposed the privprivatisationDiscoms under the guise of electricity reforms, calling for a clear statement that bill collection would not be outsourced to Adani.

The BRS MLA emphasised that despite the challenges posed by the central government, the BRS administration has continued to work diligently for Telangana's development. He criticised claims that the state was bankrupt, arguing that such statements could deter potential investments. KTR asserted that the BRS did not need to engage in "dark deals" with the BJP and rejected allegations of such deals and mergers.

He insisted that the BRS's commitment to Telangana would remain unwavering until the six guarantees promised by the Centre are fulfilled. Highlighting the state's achievements, KTR pointed out that Telangana leads in per capita income, GSDP growth, tax revenue, poverty alleviation, and agriculture. He also mentioned that the state ranks high in ease of doing business. He called on the central government to fulfill its election promise regarding the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR). He criticised the lack of support from Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha.

He reaffirmed that the BRS was founded to serve Telangana and that its principles would not change. He accused Revanth Reddy of spreading misinformation about alleged deals and mergers with the BJP. He expressed frustration with the lack of protest from Telangana's MPs regarding injustices in the central budget, contrasting this with the active protests by MPs from other states like Punjab.

KTR reiterated that the BRS is solely focused on the interests of Telangana, rejecting any need for mergers or secret deals. He emphasised that the BRS is not afraid to speak against Prime Minister Modi or the BJP when necessary. While acknowledging that the BRS had supported the BJP in specific instances, such as helping a Dalit candidate for the presidency or a Telugu person for the vice presidency, he made it clear that this support was based on principle, not political opportunism.