Training his guns yet again at the Centre, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday, 12 January, said that the country needed a break from the lopsided policies of the present government.
He said that these policies were pushing the nation to economic ruin.
Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the integrated collectorate complex at Kothagudem, the chief minister said, “We have everything in plenty, but we have no access to any of it. Do we have to suffer even after 75 years of independence? There is no drinking water, irrigation facility, or power supply even though the rivers are full. There is an urgent need for change,” he said.
Failure to thrive?
He said that due to the BJP’s failure to accelerate the economy, Telangana had suffered — though within its limitations it has done extremely well compared to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
“The BJP and BRS came to power at the Centre at the same time in 2014. But in the last eight years, Telangana’s GSDP (gross state domestic product) has grown to ₹11.5 lakh crore from ₹5 lakh crore. Had the Centre worked with the same speed as we did, Telangana’s GSDP would have touched the ₹14.5 lakh crore mark,” he said.
కేంద్రంలోనూ పక్షపాత వైఖరి లేని ప్రభుత్వం రావాలి : సీఎం శ్రీ కేసీఆర్. pic.twitter.com/jOxFzRXnZC
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) January 12, 2023
The chief minister wondered why the people of India should continue to suffer for basic needs. There are large tracts of lands that are fit for cultivation and yet they have no access to water, he noted.
“Of the 83 crore acres of land, India has 41 crore acres of land fit for cultivation and yet farmers have no access to irrigation facilities. Every year, about 60 lakh TMC of water goes waste into the sea and we cannot do anything about it. We cannot make use of the excellent climate that we have, brilliant sunlight that shines on us,” he said.
He wondered whether the time had come for people to have a change in perspective on how to take the nation forward.
No space for divisive politics
He also expressed his annoyance over the increasing trend of stoking communal and caste flames for political benefit as it was hurting the nation’s economy.
“It is a no-brainer that no one would come forward to invest in India if there is trouble all the time. Do we have to act like the Taliban, with divisive politics? How long should this economic ruin continue?” he asked.
He said that it bothered him to watch states fight among themselves for water. “Tamil Nadu and Karnataka fight for Kaveri water. Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab are at loggerheads with each other for Ravi-Beas waters,” he said.
Live: CM Sri KCR addressing a public meeting after inaugurating Bhadradri Kothagudem District Integrated Offices' Complex https://t.co/40JceuuoPE
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) January 12, 2023
Be the change you want to see
KCR said that he would continue to speak his mind about what needed to be done for a better India at a public meeting scheduled on 18 January at Khammam. He invited the people to attend it to know the direction in which the nation should go.
He wanted the people of Telangana to spur the change that is needed now. “Let the change that we are seeking begin in Telangana,” he implored, as his party workers cheered him on.
Support from the state
On the occasion, he announced ₹40 crore each to the two municipalities of Kothagudem and Palvoncha, and ₹25 crore each to Yellandu and Manuguru.
అనంతరం ఏర్పాటు చేసిన బహిరంగ సభలో సీఎం కేసీఆర్ మాట్లాడారు. మహబూబాబాద్ గతంలో చాలా వెనుకబడ్డ ప్రాంతం అని, ఇప్పుడు జిల్లా అయ్యాక అభివృద్ధి పరుగులు పెడుతోందన్నారు. జిల్లాకు కొత్తగా ఇంజినీరింగ్ కాలేజ్ ఏర్పాటు చేస్తామని హామీ ఇచ్చారు…https://t.co/LlvM2Mjwc3 pic.twitter.com/q8GxlmVjJ5
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) January 12, 2023
Referring to gram panchayats, he said that he was sanctioning ₹10 lakh each to all 481 of them.
He promised early completion of the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation, which he said would become a lifeline for the entire erstwhile Khammam district.
Earlier in the day, after inaugurating the Bhadradri-Kothagudem integrated district collector’s office in Mahabubabad, the chief minister promised similar help to them as well.
He said that he was sanctioning ₹10 lakh each to 461 gram panchayats, ₹50 crore to Mahabubabad municipality and ₹25 crore each to Dornakal, Maripeda, and Thorrur municipalities.
మహబూబాబాద్ ప్రజలకు సీఎం శ్రీ కేసీఆర్ శుభవార్త
మహబూబాబాద్ పట్టణానికి రూ.50 కోట్లు, ప్రతి గ్రామ పంచాయతీకి రూ.10 లక్షలు మంజూరు. pic.twitter.com/7qkNJZGqSV
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) January 12, 2023
He promised a government engineering college for the district and said that it would start functioning from the next academic year.
