Cold-shouldering by BJP makes TRS bristle

When NDA govt is hostile to TS why should business be as usual, asks TRS leadership

​New Delhi: Accusing the NDA government of adopting an anti-Telangana stand despite "our being supportive of their policies all these days", the TRS leadership has warned that it would not be business as usual any longer.

Addressing media here on Tuesday TRS Parliamentary Party leader Jitender Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, said the latest humiliation on Telangana was heaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by cancelling the appointment given to the all-party delegation led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seeking categorisation of SC reservations.

"This is not the first time the Centre has discriminated against Telangana. The Prime Minister had the time to meet a farmer delegation from Amaravati but not to meet us on an all important issue.

We have seen the statements of the BJP leaders back home who said they would not allow the credit of categorisation go to us.

Who seeks credit? They could take all the credit. Their own Venkaiah Naidu had promised categorisation.

When the Chief Minister sought the appointment, the PMO said yes. It even said the Prime Minister wanted Union Minister Gehlot too to be present. Yet, they cancel it and we do not know who is behind it," they said.

The smooth working equation between the two got fouled up over too many issues of late. They cited the cancellation of the R-Day Parade tableau of Telangana at the last moment and demanded an explanation.

"Even in the allocation of funds to the Backward Regions in Telangana, in the allocation of IPS officers and in not allocating AIIMS their hostile attitude towards us is quite evident. Why should it be business as usual with them," they asked.

K Chandrasekhar Rao was said to be livid over the same and directed his MPs to boycott Parliament proceedings for a couple of days. Accordingly, the MPs are sharpening knives to attack the ruling party "just like any other opposition party" henceforth.

Indications are that the TRS would no longer be supportive of the Centre’s programmes and policies given this situation. Sources indicate that KCR is mulling to camp in Delhi well ahead of the 2019 elections to hobnob with the anti-BJP and anti-Congress parties and play a crucial role in the third front.

The move could come earlier too if the BJP bites the dust in UP elections. The TRS leadership is of the opinion that if Modi loses UP, then he would be much weakened within the party too and the chances of a socialist democratic alternative emerging in the country would be stronger.

The refusal of the Centre to intervene in even contentious issues like the early bifurcation of the High Court and its unilateral decision in merging seven mandals of Bhadrachalam with AP and the continued neglect of the demands of the Telangana government is not being taken kindly by the TRS Government any longer.

"Our patience is ebbing away. The Centre is too focused on the development of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh alone. They do Babu's (Chandrababu Naidu) bidding always," the TRS MPs said.

KCR is said to be eyeing centre-stage in the national politics post-2019 after a smooth transfer of power to the Gen-Next as he is of the opinion that unconditional support of the Centre is essential to transform Telangana into a 'Bangaru Telangana'.

"An inimical Centre will favour our rivals always. Hence, it is better to cultivate friends at the national level ahead of the crucial 2019 elections," sources claim.