-Are TRS, BJP Covid-repellant parties? Asks Congress
-TS Police permitting TRS, BJP to hold meetings, but not Congress: Shabbir
Hyderabad, January 10: Former Minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir strongly condemned the State Police for not permitting any meetings or programmes of the Congress party anywhere in Telangana State.
Shabbir Ali, in an informal chat with media persons at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has reportedly directed the State police not to permit any programme by the Congress party citing Covid norms. However, he said TRS, RSS, BJP and even the Left parties were allowed to hold meetings after the imposition of new Covid regulations in view of the spread of the Omicron variant. “TRS is still holding huge meetings in the name of Rythu Bandhu celebrations across the State. The visuals of those meetings clearly show that Covid regulations like compulsory masks and social distancing are not being followed. Similarly, BJP was permitted to hold a series of meetings in the last 10 days without any major restrictions,” he alleged.
The Congress leader said that the Telangana Police permitted Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a three-day summit in Hyderabad from 5th to 7th January. The CPI (M) held its Central Committee in Hyderabad for three days from 7th January. The CPI too held its meeting last week. The Chief Minister even had a luncheon meeting with the Left party leaders at his residence (Pragathi Bhavan). However, during the same period, Congress was denied permission citing Covid regulations, he said.
“The partisan attitude of Telangana Police is highly condemnable. They are not doing their duty in a fair manner and showing disrespect towards the Constitution. The laws and rules are equal for everyone and they must be applied without showing any favour or discrimination. However, Telangana Police gave an impression as if TRS and BJP are natural repellants of Coronavirus and their meetings are safe while Covid will get active only if Congress holds any meeting,” he said.
Shabbir Ali alleged that CM KCR was restricting the basic movement of Congress leaders through illegal arrests. “Today Congress MLC Jeevan Reddy was arrested in Nizamabad while he was on his way to Bheemgal Babapur to meet the family of lady teacher Smt. Saraswati who committed suicide after she was forcibly transferred to other district as per the GO 317. Is it a crime to meet the family members of those who committed suicide? Are we not allowed to express condolences and extend our support to such families?” he asked.
“TPCC President Revanth Reddy, myself and several other senior leaders were placed under house arrest on December 31 so as to prevent us from leaving for Bhupalpally to participate in a ‘Rachabanda’ programme to speak with farmers. We’ve been facing this situation for a long time. CM KCR is throttling the democracy by suppressing the voice of the main opposition Congress party. We are gathering the entire data and we might approach the court seeking legal remedy against this discriminatory attitude of Telangana Police,” he alleged.
The Congress leader also alleged that the TRS and BJP were enacting dramas to divert people’s attention from real issues. “TRS Govt did not fulfill the promise of waiving off crop loans upto Rs. 1 one lakh. Lakhs of farmers got no compensation for the crop losses in the last seven years. KCR Govt suppressed the data of farmers’ suicide to deprive their families
of compensation of Rs. 6 lakh each and other assistance as per GO 421. Instead of empowering the farmers by giving them all required assistance, TRS Govt is giving mere Rs. 5,000 per acre per season which is not sufficient to raise an entire crop. Lakhs of farmers suffered due to non-procurement of entire paddy in the Kharif season and they were pushed into a state of confusion over cultivating paddy or alternate crop in the Rabi season. In order to cover up these failures, TRS is organizing Rythu Bandhu celebrations,” he alleged.
Shabbir Ali said that the Congress party has a long history of bringing down the ‘dictators’ on their knees. “CM KCR, in his arrogance, might misuse the police and other resources to target the Congress party. However, the Chief Minister cannot stop the Congress leaders from raising the public issues in the most aggressive form. KCR is underestimating the strength of the Congress party. By highlighting BJP in Telangana, KCR is apparently giving an impression that he was so powerful that he can pick his opposition. Let TRS-BJP jointly play a full-season of their dramas on their ACP (Always Cheating People) Platform to deceive the public. But the Congress party will release its blockbuster in 2023 elections,” he said.
