KTR accuses BJP of neglecting Telangana

Hyderabad, Jan 5 (INN): TRS Party Working President K. Tarakarama Rao has accused the BJP Government at the Centre of neglecting Telangana by not providing any funds for irrigation and other projects in the State.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, KTR stated that despite receiving appreciations for Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya from all corners of the country, these projects are not being adequately supported by BJP Government. 'When BJP Government in Maharashtra requested for center's assistance in their irrigation projects, the center has allocated Maharashtra Rs. 3,830 crores. However no such assistance was provided for Telangana projects. They have different rules for BJP ruling states and non-BJP ruling states,' he alleged.

KTR mentioned that Mission Bhagiratha had won HUDCO award twice for best outstanding contribution in the infrastructure sector through innovative initiatives.

The project received encomium from the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, MoDs(GOI), Niti Aayog,15th Finance Commission and other states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, he added.

He stated that Mission Bhagiratha model is also being emulated in Bihar, Karnataka and Maharashtra states. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi made special mention of Mission Bhagiratha in his 'Mann Ki Baat' and applauded the efforts made by the Telangana government in water supply sector.

'BJP government has only praises for Telangana. They never released funds. BJP government is biased towards Telangana only because they don't see a political future in the state. We strongly condemn this behavior,' said KTR.

Earlier, eminent persons like Rajendra Singh, Waterman of India, Nobel Prize awardee Kailash Satyarthi praised Mission Bhagiratha.

'Arvind Panagariya, former Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog visited the state and met CM KCR and other officials and discussed the ongoing works of Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya. Looking at the impressive work, he wrote a letter to the Centre asking them to allocate funds to these projects,' said KTR.

'In the recent general election in Telangana, the BJP candidates lost deposit in 103 constituencies. If BJP continues to behave in the same manner, the party will lose deposits in 17 parliament constituencies as well,' said KTR.

He also said that the TRS party leaders have been requesting the Centre to confer national project status to Kaleshwaram and sanction of a special grant for it. 'It is unfortunate that the center does not respond to our demands,' he added.

KTR said that BJP never tried to fulfill assurances promised to Telangana under the AP Reorganisation Act and they never responded on ITIR, Bayyaram steel factory or the Tribal University.

He stated that the center is willing to emulate schemes introduced by Telangana government (like Rythu Bandhu) but is not ready to provide the state with funds. 'We will request our MPs to continue to raise their voice in Parliament,' he added.