KCR turned Telangana into a 'Crisis State': Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad, Oct 15 (INN): Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of turning Telangana into a 'Crisis State'.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Legislature Party office on Thursday, Shabbir Ali said that the wrong policies of TRS Government have pushed Telangana into one crisis after the other. While the State was already in the grip of education, health and agriculture crisis, Telangana is now facing severe financial crisis. "Inexperience, arrogance and anarchism of KCR has turned Rs. 7500 crore revenue surplus Telangana, into a State with over Rs. 70,000 crore debts in just 16 months. As on today, the State's exchequer has a balance of about Rs. 1800 crore while at least Rs. 3100 crore are needed to pay salaries and pensions. The TRS Government must issue a White Paper giving exact status of State's finances," demanded Shabbir Ali.

Shabbir Ali said that the education sector is in a state of neglect due to non-payment of fee reimbursement dues, lack of Vice-Chancellors in all 11 State universities and shortage of staff and other facilities in almost all institutions. Similarly, several people died due to Swine Flu, Dengue and other diseases due to the negligent attitude of the State Government. The TRS Government neither declared Health Emergency nor took any steps to prevent spread of diseases, especially in agency areas. The agrarian crisis has claimed over 1500 lives in the last 16 months. But KCR is yet to wake up from his slumber. The TRS Government remained inert on all these issues, he said.

"Utter financial indiscipline and inefficient fiscal management has turned Telangana into a bankrupt State. In contrast to the claims made by KCR on Telangana being one of the richest States in the country, the State Government so far borrowed nearly Rs. 70,000 crore from different agencies. It is still seeking nod of Central Government and RBI to borrow more loans," said Shabbir Ali. Tall claims on financial status caused heavy losses to Telangana from the 14th Finance Commission and the artificial feeling of being rich has apparently prevented KCR from declaring drought hit districts to seek Central assistance, he said adding that this approach has added more burden on State's exchequer.

Shabbir Ali said that the people of Telangana have a right to know the State's correct financial position. "TRS Government must clarify whether it would be able to meet financial targets set in Rs. 1.15 lakh crore budget for 2015-16. It must furnish complete information on receipts and expenditure," he said.

The Congress leader also slammed the Chief Minister for taking immature decisions and reversing the same after a while. "KCR has become a U-turn Chief Minister. He took more than 15 U-turns in the last 15 months," he said. Citing instances, he said KCR took U-turn on demolition of illegal buildings, Intensive Household Survey, FAST, shifting of Chest Hospital, shifting of Secretariat, construction of Vinayak Sagar, cleaning of Hussain Sagar, Telangana Kala Bharati at Indira Park, acquisition of Parade Ground, taking over of OU land, shifting of OGH, cheap liquor policy and even on the promise of conducting an all-party meeting on Pranahita-Chevella project.

"KCR latest U-turn is on Metro Rail project route. He objected on the HMR route at Maozamjahi Market and Assembly building. Works were stopped for almost 16 months causing huge financial losses. Now he took a U-turn and said that the HMR authorities could go ahead with the original route plan. Who is responsible for the delay and huge financial losses?" he asked.

Shabbir Ali advised the Chief Minister to be cautious in taking decisions. "You promised to hold all party meeting on Pranahita Chevella and other irrigation projects on the floor of Assembly and now you took a U-turn. This is nothing but utter disrespect for the Constitution and Assembly. Stop behaving in this immature manner. Your wrong approach has pushed the State into financial crisis and continuance of such behaviour would only add to the losses," he said.