The BRS chief said this was because the BJP-led NDA might not cross the 250-seat mark in the Lok Sabha, for which elections are underway.
KCR at an election rally. (Supplied)
BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao on Monday, 6 May, predicted that his party would play a key role in national politics if it won at least 14 Lok Sabha seats in the ongoing elections.
The former Telangana chief minister made the statement while addressing an election rally in the Nizamabad district. “This time, neither Congress nor BJP will come to power at the centre,” he said.
He said the BJP-led NDA might not cross the 250-seat mark in the Lok Sabha, and therefore regional parties forming the government at the Centre was a possibility.
The BRS chief also said his party alone could defeat the Congress in the state. KCR reminded the people that BRS — and not Congress — defeated the BJP candidates in the Assembly elections in November last year.
He also said the Congress dispensation in the state was now crediting the Rythu Bandhu money into the farmers’ account after he took up the issue.
Similarly, if all other promises made by Congress were to be implemented, the BRS candidates needed to win the Lok Sabha election, he said.
KCR sought to project himself as one who cared for people of all faiths, though he practised Hinduism. “No doubt I am a Hindu. however, people of all faiths are close to my heart,” he said.
“I wish for all the people in Telangana to live happily. Hindus and Muslims should live like brothers. One should not fan communal passions,” he said.
The BRS chief also appealed to the youths not to make impulsive decisions while voting. “I want all of you to think clearly and wisely and then vote. It is necessary that BRS candidates win for the state to prosper,” he said.
The former chief minister said that under no circumstances would he capitulate before BJP.
“The saffron party ordered the arrest of my daughter K Kavitha because I consistently opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
“But I am not scared that easily. I will not compromise on my ideals. I will continue to fight with BJP. There is no question of surrendering to the BJP, no matter what,” asserted KCR.
The BRS chief minister also sought to raise the matter of Godavari waters, which is an emotive issue for the people of Telangana. “Modi said he would take our Godavari water to Tamil Naidu. Should we allow it?” he asked.
He also said that if the people of Telangana had to have the rights to the Godavari river’s waters, it was imperative that BRS nominee Bajireddy Govardhan be elected to the Lok Sabha.
KCR cautioned the masses against electing BJP candidates: “They will bow before the prime minister and not utter a word for the protection of Telangana’s rights.”
Launching a fresh offensive against the Congress government in the state, he said that till now it had promised to show heaven on earth but had failed to implement even one promise.
The gift of one tola (around 11.66 grams) of gold to brides at the time of their wedding was still a promise on paper, said KCR.
No one was buying the food grains the government was providing, he said.
The ₹500 bonus was not being paid on the Minimum Support Price per quintal of paddy, he claimed, adding that no one was purchasing the paddy damaged by the recent rains either.
He also said there had been no fee reimbursement for college students, as promised.
KCR also said weavers had begun dying by suicide as the government had not yet given them orders, while industries were moving out of the state.
“Isn’t this proof of the incompetence of the state government?” he asked.
(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
