Former Minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of giving preference to politics over the welfare of the people of Telangana.
“PM Modi restricted his visit to Hyderabad on May 26 to politics and by skipping the PM’s visit CM KCR gave prominence to his political ambitions. Both PM Modi and CM KCR gave no importance to the needs and aspirations of the people of Telangana. KCR did not utilise the opportunity to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister on the needs of Telangana and by not enquiring anything about Telangana people and their welfare, PM Modi gave a wrong message that BJP’s growth was more important to him than the State’s welfare,” Shabbir Ali said in a media statement on Friday.
Shabbir Ali said that Narendra Modi addressed the meeting as the BJP leader and not as the Prime Minister. “Is he the Prime Minister of BJP or the Prime Minister of entire India, including Telangana?” he asked. He said that the Prime Minister should have conducted a review meeting with the top officials to get first-hand information on Telangana’s affairs. He said CM KCR should have organised this meeting to present the pending issues with the Centre and seek a solution.
“There was no political will either from PM Modi or CM KCR to discuss Telangana’s issues. While Modi wanted to promote BJP in Telangana, KCR went to Bengaluru to pursue his political ambitions. As the Prime Minister, Modi should’ve realised that a discussion on Telangana’s affairs was more important than addressing the BJP workers. Similarly, KCR must have realised that his meeting with the current Prime Minister was more important than meeting a former PM,” he said.
Shabbir Ali said CM KCR avoiding a meeting with PM Modi during his visit to Hyderabad was highly unfortunate for the people of Telangana. “Modi and KCR are only interested in politics and not people’s welfare. Both of them have been cheating the people with fake promises and false claims for the last eight years. They are equally responsible for rising unemployment and inflation. By indulging in a blame game, they are trying to distract the people’s attention from the real issues,” he alleged.
The Congress leader said that CM KCR had lost a big opportunity to directly question PM Modi on the non-procurement of paddy. During the ISB event, CM KCR could’ve raised the issue of non-sanction of IIM, IIT and other Central institutions for Telangana. He could’ve asked Modi why the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR), which was sanctioned for Hyderabad by the previous Congress-led UPA Govt to create 50 lakh jobs, was cancelled by the BJP Govt. By not having a one-on-one meeting with Modi, KCR lost the opportunity to question him on why no irrigation project in Telangana was accorded a National Status. “Modi and KCR behaved as the representatives of BJP and TRS respectively and not as the representatives of people,” he said.
“By avoiding a meeting with PM Modi, KCR felicitated his smooth visit without holding him accountable for denial of funds, projects and schemes for Telangana. Both Modi and KCR have set a bad precedent and this approach will have a long-lasting negative impact on federalism,” he alleged.
