KT Rama Rao said it was imperative that the Central government encourage and incentivise performing states and not punish them.
Published Mar 07, 2023 | 5:19 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 07, 2023 | 5:20 PM
KTR speakin0g at the CII Telangana state conference. (KTRBRS/Twitter)
The Central government must encourage and incentivise performing states — and not punish them — to usher in an era of a vibrant economy, Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao said on Tuesday, 7 March.
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Telangana state annual conference, KTR, referring to unkept promises made in the Andhra Pradesh State Re-organisation Act of 2014, asked, “If the Centre does not honour what it promised in the act, where is the sanctity for democracy that we proudly talk about?”
He added: “If we do not help the state which is doing well, we would be doing a great disservice to the goals that we have set for ourselves.”
Without naming the BJP, KTR said that the party in power at the Centre should not try to arrogate to itself all powers since India is a democratic nation.
“In a democracy, one may not be politically affiliated with another party but that is the beauty of democracy. Many people here may not like me but they are here. This is what democracy is about,” he said, stressing that one’s dislike should not prevent him/her from helping the other.
He also said one needed to look for answers to tough questions like how China is easily manufacturing goods and selling them at prices lesser than domestically produced goods in far-off countries.
The Centre should revisit its duty structure, raw materials, and the illogical roadblocks that impede growth in India, he said, adding that the Centre should take a hard look at ways to encourage entrepreneurs.
The minister, covering a wide gamut of sectors in which Telangana has made rapid progress, said that the state has been in the vanguards of development ever since it was created in 2014.
The state’s GSDP, which was ₹5.06 lakh crore at that time, has ballooned to ₹16.17 lakh crore now.
The per capita income, which was ₹1.26 lakh when the state was formed, has now reached ₹3.17 lakh, he said.
IT and Industries Minister @KTRBRS delivering inaugural address at @FollowCII Telangana State Annual Meeting 2022-23. https://t.co/pyYoWhQsb4
— KTR, Former Minister (@MinisterKTR) March 7, 2023
“If the whole of India had done as well as Telangana, we would have become a $5-trillion economy by now,” said KTR, adding that the state’s progress was exemplary though it was hamstrung by the lack of support from the Centre.
“No support comes from the Centre either for the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park, or Pharma City, or for the creation of electronic manufacturing clusters or industrial corridors,” he said, taking a swipe at the Centre’s attitude of dictating terms to the states.
“Who are you to decide what we should wear or eat? You should energise us and encourage us to move forward rather than trying to stymie our progress,” he said.
The minister said that despite the Centre’s inimical attitude, five revolutions have been sweeping across Telangana.
It has achieved a commendable green revolution with the commissioning of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) and blue revolution by taking up inland fisheries on a large scale after the reclamation of 46,000 lakes, KTR said at the CII Telangana state annual conference.
He added that there was a pink revolution by giving an impetus to sheep-rearing, which helped the state achieve the distinction of being at the top in the country in meat production, and in white revolution, with a focus on the dairy sector, and finally a yellow revolution by laying a thrust on growing edible oils.
“Palm oil cultivation has got a thrust from the government,” said the minister.
KTR said at the CII Telangana state annual conference that in the general elections next year, his party would romp to victory in the state.
He sought the industry’s cooperation in Telangana’s endeavour to power ahead on the road to development and prosperity.
He was profusely thankful to Kitex Managing Director Sabu M Jacob for choosing to invest when the going became tough for him in his home state, Kerala, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said that the initial investment of ₹1,000 crore had now grown to ₹3,000 crore, with the potential to create 28,000 jobs.
Earlier, Jacob, explaining how the government in his home state harassed him, praised KTR when the latter arranged a jet for him to visit Telangana when he expressed helplessness to undertake travel as Covid-19 was spreading fast.
“Initially, I wanted to commit an investment of ₹1,000 crore, but I increased it to ₹2,000 crore and then to ₹2,400 after visiting Telangana. Today, I said I will further increase it to ₹3,000 crore,” he said, adding that his first garments project was due for commissioning by June or July this year.
