BJP playing communal politics, Cong announcing 'guarantees' for power: BRS leader K T Rama Rao
Hyderabad (PTI): Launching a scathing attack, ruling BRS Working President in Telangana K T Rama Rao on Tuesday accused the BJP of playing communal politics and the Congress of announcing poll 'guarantees' in a desperate bid to garner votes.
Speaking at an event here where a BJP leader joined the BRS, he alleged that "those in government at the Centre" did not like the BRS government celebrating September 17, the day the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad merged with the Indian Union, as 'national integration day'.
"Narendra Modi ji's government at the Centre is playing dirty politics of dividing the society on caste or religious basis, triggering animosities and tensions, creating unnecessary trouble in the name of Hindu or Muslim, raking up old wounds, fomenting communal trouble and trying to derive mileage," he alleged.
The Modi government and BJP did a slew of injustices to Telangana in the last nine years, including merger of 'mandals' (administrative units) in Telangana with Andhra Pradesh at the time of state bifurcation and non-implementation of assurances given to Telangana in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, said Rama Rao, who is a minister in the state government.
Modi had promised to bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of the poor, he claimed. But, it did not happen, he said.
However, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has deposited Rs 73,000 crore in the accounts of 70 lakh farmers under the 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for ryots, said Rama Rao, son of the CM.
He also attacked the BJP-led government over rise in fuel prices, decline in rupee value against the dollar and others.
A BJP leader in Telangana is making a film on the 'Razakars' (armed supporters of Nizam rule) which is an attempt to rake up "old wounds" and foment trouble among people, he claimed.
"On one hand 'Kashmir Files' and on the other 'Kerala Story' and 'Razakar Files'. Since they have done nothing for the country in the last nine years, those who cannot do anything play with emotions and do such cheap politics," Rama Rao said.
Referring to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi attending a Congress rally in Hyderabad two days ago, he said the Congress is now asking for "one chance" to rule but it was given 11 chances for 55 years by people of Telangana and the country.
The Congress did not ensure drinking water and power supply and did not implement schemes like 'Rythu Bandhu' when it was in power, he claimed.
"Frustration at not being able to come to power. ..They (Congress) are making rash promises to come to power," he said.
On the Congress announcing six guarantees for people at the rally, he alleged that power and drinking water supply woes, problems in availability of seeds, "one chief minister every year" is guaranteed if Congress comes to power, he said.
The Congress government in neighbouring Karnataka is not able to implement the promises it made ahead of the Assembly elections, he claimed.
Telangana, under the rule of KCR, is number one in the country in per capita income and per capita power consumption, provision of piped drinking water to every household and others, he said.
KCR should be re-elected in the Assembly polls (scheduled to be held in a couple of months) as a "hat-trick CM", he said.
The BRS leader's attack on the NDA government with regard to September 17 is a reference to the Centre organising an official function in Hyderabad, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah attending it, to celebrate the 'Hyderabad Liberation Day' and BJP attacking the BRS government for not celebrating the day officially.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
