Telangana Budget session today, KCR asks MLAs to come prepared with data on govt schemes

Hyderabad: With the expectation that the first full-fledged Budget Session of the Telangana government would be a stormy affair, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao asked ministers and legislators to come prepared with data on government schemes to take on the Opposition.

Government Chief Whip Koppula Eswar said the government would take up public issues in the Assembly. “Public issues are our top priority. We are ready to discuss every issue and the Opposition parties should cooperate,” Mr Eswar said.

As in the past, TRS legislators would offer floral tributes at the Martyrs Memorial at Gun Park opposite the Assembly before entering the House.

The House will be adjourned after Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan’s address to the joint sitting of the Assembly and the Legislative Council.

The Chief Minister told legislators to focus on the achievements of the government, policies and programmes including implementation of old age pensions, launch of the Water Grid to supply drinking water to every house, Mission Kakatiya to clean tanks.

He told the legislators to study the proposed new industrial policy and all clearances under one roof, setting up of two panels to study 12 per cent reservations for minorities and STs and Kalyana Lakshmi scheme, among others.

Legislative Affairs and irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said the TRS-government’s aim was to ensure drinking water to every home and irrigation for every village.

“The Congress has no moral right to criticise the TRS. In the past 10 years, no silt was removed from the lakes. The Congress ignored public welfare and it is a shame for the likes of Shabbir Ali to criticise the government,” he said, responding to the criticism.