Hyderabad: Laying the ground for an aggressive campaign for the fast-approaching GHMC elections, TRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao launched a blistering attack on the BJP which the ruling party appears to be seeing as the primary rival.
He dismissed the Congress as “nadaan dushman” (innocent enemy), clearly setting the target as the ruling party begins its attempt to defend its 100 wards in the GHMC Council and gain some more.
Recently, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, referring to internal party surveys, had indicated a slight increase for the BJP in the GHMC.
During a nearly one-hour press conference, Rama Rao alleged that Union minister of state G. Kishan Reddy and BJP MPs had failed help the city. Clearly irked by the BJP’s ‘Mana Hyderabad’ slogan, Rama Rao wondered: “What have Telangana BJP leaders done for Hyderabad? One minister of state and four MPs have failed to fetch even a penny for the city.”
“The BJP has not got a penny for Hyderabad but they came up with Mana Nagaram, Mana BJP slogan recently. It's a shame,” he said.
On the matter of flood relief operations by the Opposition, Rama Rao said, “While we were on the ground, reaching out to the people and providing relief, the BJP and Congress were busy campaigning in Dubbak. They were doing politics during the crisis."
He said that even before the rains had subsided, the Chief Minister had announced Rs 550 crore for flood relief. “If needed we will request him to sanction Rs 100 crore more.”
Rama Rao claimed that financial assistance of Rs 10,000 was given to 4.3 lakh people. “This assistance was provided even before rains subsided. Without seeing the political and social background of the affected persons, we have provided assistance,” Rama Rao said.
Stating that the GHMC has a list of beneficiaries along with their photograph and signature, Rama Rao said, “It's sad to see some BJP leaders protest even though they themselves have received the financial assistance.”
“While it was brought to our notice that a few families did not receive the ex gratia, we have again started to reach out to them,” he said, adding that 920 teams had been deployed to deliver the aid a the doorstep of the victims.
He said that Hyderabad was the first metro to set up a Disaster Response Force with 800 members headed by an IPS officer to combat such flood situations.
Hitting out at BJP leaders' claim of Centre’s contribution to the state, Rama Rao said that since 2014, Telangana state’s contribution to the Centre in the form of taxes was Rs 2,72,926 crore whereas the Centre had only released Rs 1,40,329 crore to the state. The is getting its legitimate share from the Centre, not an additional penny has been given, he said.
Reminding that the Chief Minister had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate assistance of `1,350 crore after the rains, he said, “25 days have elapsed, we still have not received a response from the Centre.”
He said the Prime Minister had responded to the Karnataka Chief Minister within four days when they asked for financial assistance of Rs 669 crore. In 2017, the Prime Minister did an aerial survey of Gujarat during floods and released financial assistance of `500 crore immediately.
“Our Prime Minister responds to letters written by Karnataka and Gujarat Chief Ministers but not to letters written by Telangana state Chief Minister,” he said and asked: “Is Telangana state not a part of India? Does the Prime Minister not have the responsibility to help Hyderabad and its people?”
He said the Congress had never cared for the health and hygiene of the people. The TRS government has set up 350 Basti Dawakhanas for the urban poor besides one public toilet for every 1,000 people.
He ridiculed the Congress leaders' dharnas in the city alleging irregularities in distribution of ex-gratia to flood affected families.
Citing the Kirloskar Committee report, Rao stated that during the Congress regime, about 28,000 encroachments came up on nalas. He informed that the state government has also helped with relief assistance in 22 municipalities around Hyderabad and has provided financial assistance of Rs 20 crore when Warangal has seen a similar flood situation.
