Telangana Elections 2018: KCR filled coffers of contractors: Rahul Gandhi

Kodad: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao filled the coffers of rich contractors by redesigning irrigation projects.

Addressing the last election rally in Telangana, he said the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief changed the names of the projects and inflated their costs to benefit the contractors and his own family.

He said that while the people who had dreamt of a golden Telangana suffered, the income of KCR's family went up by 400 percent.

"That's why people have given new name to KCR - Khao Commission Rao," said Gandhi while sharing the dais with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of other constituents of the People's Front.

Gandhi recalled that Telangana had no debt when it was formed in 2014 but the state now was under debt burden of Rs 2.5 lakh crore.

Referring to fluorosis-affected villages in Nalgonda district, he said while KCR and his family were enjoying mineral water, people were left to have fluoride and arsenic laden water.

The Congress leader said the families which gave their blood to achieve Telangana were suffering as KCR had failed to fulfil the promises made in the 2014 elections. He claimed that 4,500 farmers committed suicide during TRS rule.

Gandhi said if People's Front comes to power, its first task would be to waive the loan of farmers up to Rs 2 lakh.

Stating that there are 35 lakh unemployed youth in Telangana, he said the new Chief Minister would work 17 hours a day to create employment opportunities for them. Every unemployed youth will get Rs 3,000 unemployment allowance.

Claiming that a storm of change will sweep Telangana, he said the new government would not belong to one family.