KCR must have led delegation to Centre: Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad, Dec 2 (INN): Leader of Opposition in Telangana State Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir accused the TRS Government of not making an effective representation with the Central Government on the issues of farmers, especially in seeking help for drought hit mandals.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Legislature Party office here on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali said instead of leading the delegation himself, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had sent a team of State Ministers to New Delhi. "The Chief Minister should have taken an all-party delegation to the national capital to pressurise the Centre for immediate release of at least Rs. 1,000 crore for drought-hit farmers. Instead, the State Government made a casual and weak representation only to leave the scope for blame game in future. Of 443 rural mandals, 231 have been declared drought hit. What else is more important for KCR now than addressing the problems of affected farmers?" he asked.

Shabbir Ali said that the State Government has deliberately delayed the declaration of drought hit mandals and later adopted a non-serious approach in seeking Centre's help. "Drought hit farmers are yet to get to their loans rescheduled and get fresh loans. The input subsidy, which was declared last year, did not reach the eligible farmers. Even the High Court has passed strong remarks on the lethargic attitude of Agriculture and Revenue Departments towards farmers. The TRS MPs did not raise their voice on the farmers' issues in Parliament. They neither pressurised the Centre on relief for drought hit areas nor asked for fulfillment of promises made with Telangana in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. None of the issues like 4,000 MW NTPC power plant, national project status for Pranahita Chevella and bifurcation of High Court were raised by the TRS MPs so far during the ongoing winter session," he said.

The Congress leader also condemned TRS Government for filing a counter-affidavit in the High Court wherein it cited lavish marriages and higher education of children as major reasons for farmers' suicides. He said KCR had no issues while spending Rs. 27 crore to change vehicles in his convoy or while spending crores of rupees on a super luxury jet to travel to China. But a farmer's child getting higher education was appearing lavish for KCR. He demanded that the State Government withdraw the counter-affidavit it filed in the High Court on farmers' suicides and present a realistic report. He also alleged that farmers were being threatened of criminal cases if they grow paddy during ongoing Rabi season. He said that the government was neither allowing the farmers to act on their own nor suggesting them any alternatives.

Shabbir Ali also alleged that TRS leaders were behaving in an arrogant manner. Citing instances, he said Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakarama Rao misused State Secretariat for political purpose while admitting leaders of other political parties into TRS by offering a khandwa at his chambers. Similarly, Wyra MLA B. Madan Lal threatened CPI's MPTC Naga Lakshmi and her husband Satyanarayana to join the TRS. He said every alternate day, either KCR or KTR have been admitting leaders and activists of other political parties into TRS while exhibiting utter disrespect for the Constitution and laws.

He said TRS has turned more arrogant after winning the Warangal by-elections with a huge majority. He said such majorities do not last long. Citing an instance, he said YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had won the Kadapa by-elections in 2011 with a majority of over 5.4 lakh votes against the then ruling party Congress. However, he could not repeat the performance in 2014 and his party lost general elections. Therefore, he said TRS leaders should not behave in an arrogant manner due to such victories, especially at a time when it has turned into a party of 'Traitors of Telangana' with majority of cabinet ministers being those who opposed statehood movement.

When asked for party's strategy for the elections for 12 MLC seats, he said that the Congress Coordination Committee would meet on Thursday to discuss and finalise the strategy.