KCR intimidating opposition leaders: Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad, May 21 (INN): Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of intimidating leaders of opposition parties in the State.

Speaking after paying rich tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 25th death anniversary at a function organised by Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao at Rajiv Gandhi statue at Somajiguda on Saturday, Shabbir Ali said that the Congress party would never get influenced with such threats. "We will continue to raise people's issues and expose the failures of TRS Government. Congress party brought freedom for the country and granted statehood for Telangana. While doing so, its leaders faced several difficulties. Therefore, it would be an hounour for the Congress leaders to go jail for the sake of common people and it is not uncommon for them," he said.

He said that the Congress leaders and workers were ready to have a direct confrontation with the ruling TRS on public issues. He said that the Congress party believes in the ideology of revolutionary poet Bismil Azimabadi who said 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamaray Dil Mein Hai, Dekhna Hai Zor Kitan Bazuai Kaatil Mein Hai,' (The desire to make a Sacrifice is in our hearts; Let us see what strength there is in the arms of our executioner).

Shabbir Ali said that the TRS Government has been trying to suppress the voice of opposition leaders since beginning. However, he said that the Congress leaders have been exposing the failures of KCR and his government at regular intervals. "We will not keep quiet on the injustices being done to the people. KCR has created a shield of lies and deception around him and doesn't want anyone to expose his face. As a responsible opposition party, Congress will expose the failures of TRS Government at all levels. We will also support the government if it does something good for the people," he said.

Earlier, Shabbir Ali recalled the services of Rajiv Gandhi for the country. He said after Mahatma Gandhi, the sacrifices of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi would always be remembered in the history. He described Rajiv Gandhi as the architect of modern India and said it was due to his vision that India has witnessed a technological revolution. By reducing the age for voting from 22 to 18 years, Rajiv Gandhi empowered youth and his vision for modern India enabled lakhs of youth to get jobs, both in India and abroad.

Shabbir Ali also praised Rajiv Gandhi for empowering women and other backward and weaker sections of the society.