'Fortunate' T MLAs get rich Diwali gifts

Hyderabad: They are the 'fortunate'MLAs of Telangana region now owning a 'Fortuner,' the most flamboyant SUV which only the rich could afford, as each one cost nearly Rs25 lakhs.

Of the 49 T-MLAs, some 25 now cruise in Fortuners, which they claim to have got with cheap government loans but detractors say have come as Diwali gifts with a tag attached, 'don't join TRS.'

If it is indeed a government gift, the public exchequer is going to pick up the bills to the tune of Rs12 crore.

But, ask the people's representatives, and they fly into a fury. Bought with a loan is the common plea. At least 25 MLAs have accepted that they got Fortuners but with a bank loan and not as Diwali gifts.

Husnabad assembly constituency MLA Praveen Reddy told that the reports of receiving a Fortuner as Diwali gift are baseless and that he did not receive any vehicle as a gift.

'Nonsense. I have not received any Fortuner vehicle from anybody. All these reports are being generated to tarnish our image.'

Another MLA Ch Pratap Reddy from Shadnagar Assembly constituency was not amused at this and blamed the jobless for spreading these canards.

He said he and some 24 MLAs had taken loans from the State government and banks to buy these vehicles. 'What the Hell?' he asked.

'Who is spreading these rumours? I bought this vehicle by taking a Rs10 lakh loan at the rate of 25 paise interest from the State government and another Rs15 lakh from a bank.

Not only me, around 24 other MLAs also availed the loans to buy these vehicles. The report that I&PR Minister DK Aruna of my district (Mahboobnagar) gave gifts is baseless,' says Pratap Reddy.

If this is true, it would mean while the common man pays interests rates of up to 10-12 per cent for vehicle loans, the MLA gets pays 4 per cent interests. Reddy shot back saying a Fortuner is no big thing for an MLA.

'MLAs don't need to take gifts from anybody. They are all well off and can buy their own vehicles.' He said that when he was in the real estate business he himself had gifted seven vehicles to different individuals as gifts. Yes, he would participate in State government's pet programme-Rachchabanda. 'Any doubts?' he countered.

Yes, the TRS has doubts. TRS MLA K Eeshwar says, 'The Congress party is not in a position to keep its MLAs under control after three Congress MLAs joined TRS. To protect their flock, the Congress leaders are seducing them with gifts. If people of Telangana came to know about this, the dignity of these MLAs will be lost.'