No adequate power supply to farmers in Kharge's home state of Karnataka, BRS leader Rama Rao attacks
Hyderabad (PTI): Stepping up the attack on the Congress in the run-up to the November 30 Legislative Assembly polls in Telangana, ruling BRS Working President K T Rama Rao on Wednesday alleged it could not ensure adequate power supply in Karnataka, the home state of its president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The Congress would derail the progress achieved in the state if it comes to power in the Assembly polls, he claimed.
Addressing an event here where leaders from other parties joined the BRS, he claimed that farmers in neighbouring Karnataka are now regretting having voted the Congress to power.
The farmers have brought a crocodile to an electricity supply office in Karnataka in protest against power cuts, he said.
"In the home state of All India Congress Committee president (Mallikarjun) Kharge ji, farmers are now regretting that they have done a mistake by handing over power to these people. Such people are now seeking one chance by hoodwinking our farmers," he said.
He claimed that Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy favoured only three hours of power supply to farmers against the 24x7 free supply given to agriculture by the BRS government.
The Congress is seeking one chance for power in Telangana but it was given 11 chances in the past, said Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
The Congress, however, could not ensure adequate supply of power, water and others during its long rule in undivided Andhra Pradesh, he alleged.
Saying that power, irrigation, drinking water supply and welfare programmes have witnessed improvement during the BRS rule, Rama Rao claimed that the situation would turn bad if the Congress is handed over the reins of power.
"Kharge ji, there is no certainty, it's only a five hours power supply in your home state. What can you and your party achieve in Telangana," he said.
He also said BRS is starting the new campaign programme of 'KCR bharosa' (assurance) to take its election manifesto to the people.
Rama Rao highlighted the poll promises of BRS, including hike in monetary benefits under social security pensions and 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers, releasing annual job calendar to fill up vacancies in government departments.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
