Etala refutes allegations of writing to EC on stopping Dalit Bandhu scheme

Karimnagar: Former minister and BJP leader Etala Rajendar on Tuesday said that he had not written to the Election Commission of India to stop the Dalit Bandhu scheme in Huzurabad. In any case, said Rajendar, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao would not be able to implement the scheme in 10 days before the October 30 byelection, if he had not been able to do it for 60 days.

“If KCR is really committed to uplift the Dalit communities, then he must immediately sanction Rs 10 lakh to the beneficiaries, and must remove the powers which have been given to the collector,” Rajendar said. He pointed out that the CM had boasted that the scheme would be implemented before the bypolls.

“Who asked the government not to give pensions, three acres of land, and double bedroom houses to Dalits,” he asked while participating in an election campaign at Chelpur village of Huzurabad constituency. He said the CM had pushed through the Dalit Bandhu scheme fearing defeat in the bypoll.

He claimed that TRS leaders and police had beaten up an unemployed girl who had asked finance minister T. Harish Rao when the government would give them jobs. False cases were lodged against her and she was called mentally ill. “Is this way the TRS wants to rule the state, by harassing unemployed educated youth,” he questioned.

“TRS leaders are threatening the people saying that they will stop welfare schemes if they will vote for the BJP. As per Constitution written by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the people have the right to vote of their own choice, no one should influence them or threaten them,” he said.