KCR dares Naidu on cash-for-vote

​Hyderabad: Resurrecting the bogey of cash-for-vote scam to fix his AP counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana caretaker Chief Minister and TRS president K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday reiterated that the AP leader's voice-records had proved his involvement in the impropriety beyond any doubt.

The Telangana chief minister, taking Naidu to task for the third straight day at ‘Praja Ashirwada Sabha’ in Wanaparthy, dared him to prove that he was not guilty. "Wasn't it your voice on the voice record? Wasn't it not true that you had sent one ‘Buddarkhan’? Your voice record is there, giving you away,” KCR said.

Taking a strong exception to Naidu saying that he wanted to have an alliance with the TRS, KCR made contemptuous gesticulations to prove the point he would never have truck with the yellow party. “Alliance with you...? Chi... Chi... I will not align with you in my lifetime. You have an iron leg. We are living our lives, you live yours. But if you try to make a foray into Telangana in the guise of Mahakutami, no one is afraid of you. We are ready to face you,” he said.

The TRS president asked people not to walk into the trap Mahakutami is laying before them. “The Congress leaders are brining Chandrababu Naidu. “Do we have to hand over our self-respect to Nadiu? Will you go to Amaravati for any work in your hometown? Why should we be salves to either Delhi or Vijayawada?” he asked.

Tearing into the claims of the Congress that it alone could save the people of Telangana, KCR recalled the leaders from Mahbubnagar remaining silent when injustice was being done to Telangana region before the division of the state. "When the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy diverted 65,000 cusecs of water to Pothireddypadu head regulator from Krishna, the Congress leaders did not raise their voice. The Congress leader from Mahbubnagar district G Chinna Reddy shamelessly wrote in a newspaper that Pothireddypadu was legal and that no injustice was done to Telangana, only to save his cabinet berth,” he said.

When N Raghuveera Reddy as Agriculture Minister, took away water through Handri Neeva to Anantapur again from Krishna river, another Congress leader D K Aruna welcomed him with aarti. Aruna, be prepared. We will release your videos,” KCR said.

He also took exceptions to Congress leaders brandishing swords during their campaign. These leaders did not brandish a sword when they had to but they are doing it now. He recalled TRS ministers resigning on the issue of Pothireddypadu from Y S Rajasekhara Reddy cabinet. He took exception to the comments of ‘Battebaz, Dhokebaz’ against him by the PCC chief questioning whether these were the words that one should use to address a chief minister.

Rao said that Congress has always taken Telangana for a ride since the days of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He faulted Sonia Gandhi for promising Telangana in 2004 but failing to keep her word under the influence of Rajasekhara Reddy. “If she had kept her promise hundreds of youth would have not died,” he said.

The TRS president said that he would not seek votes again in the next election if he cannot provide water to 20 lakh acres in Mahbubnagar district. He assured the government employees that he would call them after the elections for deciding on Interim Relief.