Ramchander Rao Targets Cong. Over Ration Cards, Fee Dues

Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Saturday questioned the Congress government’s decision not to display Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph on smart ration cards, claiming more than 90 per cent of funds for free rice came from the Centre. He said Telangana’s development was being supported substantially by Central funds and projects.

Speaking at the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the BJP headquarters, where he hoisted the National Flag, Rao alleged nearly Rs 12,000 crore in fee reimbursement dues remained pending, affecting students. He accused the government of placing valuable industrial land at the disposal of real estate interests under the Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) policy and opposed dividing the GHMC into three civic bodies, saying it could raise the tax burden.

Rao criticised the delay in implementing the National Education Policy, alleging students were suffering due to unpaid fee reimbursement dues. He alleged the previous BRS government had left Telangana with debt of over Rs 4.5 lakh crore and claimed the Congress administration had added another Rs 2 lakh crore in less than 30 months. He said the Congress had failed to fulfil its six election guarantees and BC reservation promises.

Listing projects with Central assistance, he mentioned the Sammakka-Sarakka Tribal University, modernisation of Secunderabad and other railway stations, the Kazipet Railway Manufacturing Unit, revival of Ramagundam Fertilisers, Kakatiya Mega Textile Park, Zaheerabad NIMZ, the Civil Aviation Research Organisation in Hyderabad and MMTS expansion.

He said India had emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy, making progress in defence, infrastructure, semiconductors, space research and manufacturing. He cited the increase in IITs from six to 20 and expansion of AIIMS, IIMs and NITs.