'Dalit Bandhu' not a new scheme: Bandi Sanjay Kumar

Hyderabad: The 'Dalit Bandhu' Scheme (DBS), claimed to be the brainchild of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, is not a new scheme, asserted State BJP president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Monday.

Addressing a public meeting on the 31-day of his 'Praja Sangrama Yatra'at Illantakunta in Rajanna Sircilla district, he said that each dalit has been provided Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore, under the 'Stand Up India' programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme, launched much before the DBS, was meant to encourage dalits to become entrepreneurs, he added.

In a no-holds-barred attack on TRS and the CM, he alleged that the TRS chief never kept his promises made to dalits.

He said that his party never hurled insults on any religion or their gods. But it will not spare anyone resorting to insinuate Hindus and their gods, he warned.

Sanjay charged KCR with misleading people and threatening farmers regarding procurement of paddy. He expressed doubts about the CM acting tough against Naxals alleging many of those in his Cabinet were Naxals. He charged the TRS with tarring the sanctity of the Telangana festival Bathukamma.

The BJP leader asked the police to desist from harassing the party cadre who are honestly fighting on genuine issues bothering people. He was not against the police; but there were some among them serving the interests of vested interests and acting as their pawns. while the lower rung staff among the police and home guards were suffering. "We are listing out the police officials supporting wrongdoings. They will be shown their place once the BJP comes to power," he warned. Earlier, a large number of dalits joined the padayatra from Peddalingapur village.

Taking exception to statements of local TRS leaders, he asked them to first get a degree college to Illantukunta and get the long-pending construction of a culvert on Bikkavagu.

He reeled out details of crores of funds given to the Illantukunta mandal by the Centre for providing basic amenities, employment guarantee scheme, plantation, finance commission funds, Rythu Vedikas, construction of Vikunta Dhamams, Prakruthi Vanams and dumping yards.