In a dig at the BJP, K Chandrashekar Rao said people should teach a fitting lesson to those who propagate divisive and polarising politics.
Published Aug 17, 2022 | 6:20 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2022 | 8:31 PM
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao inaugurates the district collector's office at the Medchal-Malkajgiri District Collectorate and Integrated District Offices' Complex on Wednesday, 17 August, 2022. (TelanganaCMO/Twitter)
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday, 17 August, cautioned people against those who were inflaming caste and communal passions to subserve their political interests, making an oblique reference to the BJP.
He said: “Be vigilant. Don’t let anyone spread vile rumours to deceive you. If you do, you would have to repent later.”
The chief minister, addressing a meeting after inaugurating an integrated collectorate complex for the Medchal-Malkajgiri district, constructed at Antayapalli in Shammerpet Mandal at a cost of ₹50 crore, said people should discuss divisive and polarising politics and be prepared to teach a fitting lesson at an appropriate time to those who propagate it.
Rao, who has been on the offensive against the BJP lately, particularly after the Munugode Assembly seat fell vacant following the resignation of the sitting Congress MLA Komatiredy Rajagopal Reddy, is trying to paint the BJP as the villain of the piece.
The chief minister, who has trained his guns at the saffron party at the national level, said the BJP was bent on demolishing the state that people had built brick by brick after it was carved out of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
“Constructing a building is very difficult. But pulling it down is very easy. We now have a state where the economy is booming and all sections of people are leading a contented life. This apple cart should not be allowed to be disturbed by self-seeking individuals,” he said.
Reeling off statistics on how vibrant the economy had become, he claimed that Telangana stood first in the entire country in various development metrics.
“Our per-capita income has grown to ₹2.98 lakh as against ₹1 lakh at the time of the formation of the state in 2014. The GSDP has grown to ₹11.5 lakh crore compared to ₹5 lakh crore then,” he said.
Debunking the allegations that the state’s economy was in a rundown condition, he said that Telangana continues to remain a very rich state because it was endowed with resources.
He added that the real development took place after the formation of the state because the tormentors of Telangana had left for good. “We have worked hard, putting the resources to better use, and pushed the state forward on the road to development,” the chief minister said.
Keeping an eye on the Assembly segments in Hyderabad where Andhra residents are sizeable in number, KCR announced that he was increasing the constituency development fund to each MLA from the current ₹5 crore to ₹15 crore, so that they could take up development works that were needed in the outlying areas of Hyderabad city.
The chief minister’s announcement is being seen as a move to win over the Andhra settlers ahead of the Assembly elections next year.
