KTR's open letter ridiculous, alleges Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad, Oct 10 (INN): Deputy CLP leader in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Friday ridiculed the open letter written by Panchayat Raj Minister K Tarakarama Rao while posing 22 questions to the Congress party.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress Legislature Party office here, Shabbir Ali accused KTR of trying to divert people's attention by engaging Congress party in a blame game.

"The questions raised by you are not only irrelevant, but ridiculous in nature. You are trying to blame the Congress party for your government's failure to handle the power crisis.

Your questions are not only obsolete, but lack basic criteria to be answered. Of course, the Congress party is competent enough to answer each and every question that you have raised. But, being a responsible opposition, we will not fall into your trap of playing blame game while leaving the farmers of Telangana in extreme distress," he said.

Shabbir Ali also accused KTR of trying to distort facts to escape criticism for the present crisis. "You are trying to divert people's attention by asking question of a period when neither you nor me were even born. But the Congress party is speaking of about immediate past, present and near future.

We are talking about the promises made in your manifesto and the status of their implementation during the last four months. We are concerned about the present status of farmers who lost their crops and the future of families of those farmers who committed suicide," he said in his letter.

The Congress leader said that if KTR's questions were considered valid, then his open letter amounts to confession of cheating the people, especially the farmers.

"If TRS was aware that Telangana would be facing power shortage, then why did it promised eight hour power supply to the agriculture sector and 24-hour power supply to domestic, commercial and industrial sectors in the election manifesto?

Were you not aware of the demand supply position before elections? Why you did not mention in your manifesto that you will provide regular power supply only after three years? If you were aware of all the statistics and facts, then why did you cheat the common people, especially the farmers, by making unrealistic promises?" he asked.

Shabbir Ali said that the Congress party was aware of likely shortage of power and therefore, certain provisions were made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act itself to overcome the crisis.

He said the Congress party listed out both short term and long term measures to deal with the shortage which included giving a majority of share of power to Telangana and sanction of 4000 MW power plant.

The Congress leader said that during his reign as the Energy Minister from 2004-2009, Bhupalpally project of 1900 MW was launched and its first stage with 500 MW has already became operational.

Similarly, the foundation stone for Stage IV & V of Kothagudem project were launched in 2008 at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore. The 240 MW Jurala hydro-electric project and 9 MW project in Nizamabad too were launched during his period. He said these projects were initiated only for Telangana region and therefore, the TRS Government could not question his role.

Shabbir Ali also accused Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of cheating the people of Telangana by making false promises. He asked KCR to explain the status of his plans to bring power from Chattisgarh.

Similarly, the Chief Minister reiterated his fake promises on the floor of Telangana Legislative Assembly while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on Governor's Address.

He said that the Chief Minister did not call for an all-party meeting even once on power issue. "You did not seek any suggestions from us and now you are trying to engage us in a blame game to cover-up your failures," he alleged.

Shabbir Ali alleged that the Chief Minister rushed to New Delhi only after Congress party launched Rythu Bharosa Yatra. "Mr Tarakarama Rao, you have woken up from the slumber only after Telangana farmers lost their crops due to erratic power supply.

Instead of issuing directions to the official concerned to take immediate action to help the farmers in distress, it is quite regrettable that you decided to write an Open Letter to Congress party. This act of yours is not only childish, but highly condemnable in nature," he said.

"The TRS Government is trying to suppress the screams of debt-ridden farmers who are in pain with your fairy tales of Congress bashing. The Chief Minister, who was busy meeting rebel legislators of other parties, went to Delhi only after the Congress party launched Rythu Bharosa Yatra.

You must have come into action at least two months ago. You must have taken steps to ensure adequate power supply while the Khariff season was on. However, you are trying to trigger a new political debate, when the farmers started expressing their woes after losing their crops due to your government's indifferent attitude," he said adding that KCR should apologise with the farmers for cheating them.