Congress slams TRS Govt for linking polls promises with financial year

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Tuesday demanded that the TRS Government implement all the promises that it made in the election manifesto with immediate effect without linking them with Financial Year.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin said that the TRS came to power on the promises of enhancing Aasra pension amount from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,016, Rythu Bandhu amount from present Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 per acre per annum. Further, it also promised unemployment allowance of Rs. 3,016 to jobless youth. It also made several other promises. Therefore, he said all these promises should be implemented with effect from December 13 when K. Chandrashekhar Rao took oath as the Chief Minister.

However, Nizamuddin said that the TRS Government wants to implement the electoral promises from next financial year beginning on April 1. "In a democratic form of government, the ruling party gets only five years to deliver on its promises. It is nowhere linked to financial year or calendar year. When people have voted for TRS on the promise that their Aasra pension amount will get doubled, they expected it from December 11 onwards when results were declared. Therefore, KCR Government cannot deprive the beneficiaries the enhanced amount for six months citing Financial Year," he said.

The Congress leader said that since the Central Government was going for Vote on Account budget in view of Lok Sabha elections, the State Government too could go for Vote on Account budget till June. However, he said the State Government must pay the promised enhanced amount to the Aasra pension beneficiaries, Unemployment Allowance and increased amount under Rythu Bandhu scheme with retrospective effect from December 13. The amount for four months from December 13, 2018 to March 31, 2019, should be treated as arrears and must be paid to all beneficiaries in the month of April, he demanded.

Nizamuddin alleged that the address by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan to the joint session of Telangana Legislature lacked clarity on TRS Govt's plans for the next five years. Further, he said that the KCR Government need to give clarity on many issues. Regarding Mission Bhagiratha, the Governor claimed that of 66 municipalities and 23,968 rural habitations, now 18,612 are getting drinking water through Nalla (taps). He also claimed that by March 2019 all works will be completed. "State Government should give details of how many habitations/households were already getting tapped water supply till 2014. As per data available with us, more than 70% habitations/households were already getting tapped water by 2014. TRS Govt covered less than 30% of household and wants to take credit for entire 100%," he said.

Referring to the speech made by the Chief Minister in Assembly, the Congress leader said KCR has proudly claimed that 6062 families of farmers received Rs. 303 crore compensation towards Rythu Bima scheme. He pointed out that Rythu Bima scheme was under implementation since 15th August, 2018. Therefore, in the last 158 days, a total of 6062 farmers died due various reasons. It means daily 38-39 farmers are dying due to different reasons. The Chief Minister must also explain why the mortality rate among farmers is so high," he demanded.

He also demanded that the State Government furnish details of farmers' suicide since 2014 along with particulars of families who were paid Rs. 6 lakh each as per GO. 421.

Nizamuddin said that the TRS Govt lacked clarity on double bed room housing scheme. "No funds were allocated in previous term for 2BHK scheme. This time too, TRS Govt looks non-committal. In Governor's address, it was only mentioned that 272,763 houses were sanctioned and construction activity is going on. These houses were sanctioned in previous term. Does it mean no fresh sanctions will be made this time? As per the Intensive Household Survey conducted by TRS Govt itself, nearly 22 lakh families don't own a house," he said.

The Congress leader alleged that despite KCR gaining notoriety in last term for his lies, people of Telangana gave him one more chance. "This time he should change his image and stop lying. TRS Govt has got huge majority and it should govern will total clarity, efficiency and transparency," he said.

Nizamuddin also welcomed KCR for praising former Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy on Aarogyasri Scheme. "The Chief Minister has finally realised that Congress was better than BJP. Soon he will also realise and admit that Congress regime was better than his TRS Govt," he said.

However, Nizamuddin said KCR only praises Congress leaders who are now dead. He said KCR went on record several times to praise former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, ex-CM Marri Channa Reddy, ex-Union Minister G. Venkataswamy and now YSR. "It appears that KCR only likes the dead Congressmen. He never praised Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jana Reddy, Bhatti or any other leader who are alive. He must also respect the Congress leaders who are alive," he said adding that KCR himself was an ex-Congressman. "Two ex-PCC Presidents are Rajya Sabha members of TRS and many ex-Congressmen are holding top positions in TRS. CM should realise and admit that only Congress party gives birth to top leaders whose ideas are appreciated all over the world," he said.