Release White Paper on implementation of six guarantees, demands Akbar Owaisi

HYDERABAD: MIM floor leader in Telangana Legislative Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi demanded that the Congress Government release a White Paper explaining how it plans to implement the six guarantees given to the people. Speaking on the discussion on Telangana's interim budget for the financial year 2024-25 on Wednesday, Owaisi raised serious doubts over the fulfilment of six guarantees. However, he expressed hope that the Congress Government would honour its commitment by the end of the deadline on March 15.

Akbaruddin Owaisi questioned whether the Congress party was unaware of Telangana's financial status before giving six guarantees and making over 300 other promises. According to him, the Congress Government would need Rs. 2,15,568.45 crore annually to implement six guarantees. However, Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka had allocated only Rs. 53,196 crore.

The MIM leader gave a break-up of a tentative estimate for implementing six guarantees, which included an amount of Rs. 26,997 crore required to provide Rs. 2,500 monthly financial assistance to women under the Mahalakshmi scheme. Similarly, the requirement for gas cylinder for Rs. 500 would need Rs. 5399.40 crores; free travel for women - 3600 crores; financial assistance for farmers - Rs. 23,160.87 crores; assistance to 32 lakh MNGRES card-holders and agricultural labour - Rs. 3,840 crore; bonus of Rs. 500 for paddy - Rs. 7,500 crore and waiver of crop loans up to Rs. 2 lakh - Rs. 36,000 crore.

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The government would also need to spend Rs. 4,800 crore for free electricity up to 200 units; Rs. 25,000 crore on Indramma Indlue, Rs. 38,894 crore and Rs. 6,476 crore towards Vidya Jyothulu & Abdul Kalam Tohfa Taleem.

Akbaruddin Owaisi demanded that the Congress government grant judicial powers to the Wakf Board to protect the Wakf properties. He suggested convening a meeting with the Wakf, Revenue, and other departments to sort out such cases.

Citing an instance, Owaisi said that 1,600 acres of Wakf land in Manikonda Jagir was lost recently. He said during the Telangana agitation, TRS supported the Wakf Board and fought the case for the land in the High Court. However, after coming to power, the same TRS fought against the Wakf Board in the Supreme Court, stating that the land belonged to the government.

Akbaruddin Owaisi also demanded action against the District Collectors who diverted funds released to repair and renovate mosques and other Wakf institutions. He said the previous BRS regime had released Rs. 105 crore in November 2021. However, instead of spending money on renovating and repairing mosques, Dargahs, and other institutions, the District Collectors diverted the funds for other purposes.

He also questioned the Congress government over meagre allocations for the minorities' welfare. The Congress had promised a Rs. 4,000 budget for the minorities' welfare and Rs. 1,000 crore to provide loans to the minority youth. However, only Rs. 2,262 crore were earmarked for the minorities' welfare.

The MIM MLA raised several other issues related to the minorities' welfare in Telangana.