Telangana polls: Congress has used Muslims only as vote bank, alleges KCR

The two national parties — Congress and BJP — never worked sincerely for Telangana but hurt its interests, he further alleged.

ByPTI

Published Nov 16, 2023 | 12:11 PMUpdatedNov 16, 2023 | 12:19 PM

KCR adressing people in Nizamabad

Alleging that the Congress only used Muslims as a vote bank, BRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday, 15 November, asked under whose watch the demolition of Babri Masjid happened.

KCR, who addressed an election rally at Nizamabad, made a veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi’s “Mohabbat ki dukaan” comments.

If one is secular, it should be reflected in one’s work, said KCR.

KCR attacks Congress for over Babri demolition

“We (BRS) treat everyone equally, irrespective of religion and community. The Congress had used you (Muslims) only as a vote bank. Even today, the Congress does drama. They say we will close the ‘dukaan’ (shop) of hate. I am asking under whose watch the Babri Masjid’s martyrdom happened? Who got it done? It needs to be understood,” he said.

“They will make you listen to sweet words… If you are secular, you should remain secular throughout life. You should express it through your work,” he said.

During the 10 years of the Congress regime in undivided Andhra Pradesh before the formation of Telangana, only ₹2,000 crore was spent on the welfare of minorities, whereas the BRS government has spent ₹12,000 crore, he added.

Also read: KCR predicts a coalition government after 2024 LS polls

No communal riots

No communal riots have happened during the BRS regime since 2014 in the state, while such riots and curfews were the order of the day during the Congress government, he claimed.

Telangana would remain secular as long as KCR is alive, he added. “Nobody can separate us. We will work together. Muslims would work for Hindus and Hindus would work for Muslims. We will take forward our state like two brothers,” he said.

KCR also alleged that the BJP triggers animosities among people with a communal mindset.

Telangana is number one in the country in per capita income, he said.

The two national parties — Congress and BJP — never worked sincerely for Telangana but hurt its interests, he alleged.

Saying that a coalition government is going to be formed in the country after 2024, KCR said that the BRS can wield influence in Delhi if it wins all Lok Sabha seats (in the state). There are 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.

Also read: Congress wants only 3 hours of power supply to farmers, says KCR

‘BJP cheated us’

KCR, who also addressed rallies at Bodhan, Yellareddy, and Medak, questioned why even a single vote should be cast in favour of the saffron party when the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre did not sanction even a single new medical college and Navodaya Vidyalaya to Telangana.

“BJP cheated us so much. 157 medical colleges were established in India. I have written 100 letters to Prime Minister Modi. Not even a single medical college was given to us,” he said.

“Navodaya Vidyalayas should be given as per the number of districts. This is legislation passed in Parliament. Modi, violating the law, did not give us a single Navodaya school though I had asked 100 times,” he said.

KCR alleged that Congress leaders favoured only three hours of power supply to farmers against the 24-hour free supply being provided by his government and that they termed his government’s “Rythu Bandhu” investment support scheme for farmers as “wasteful expenditure”.

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