Telangana CM Revanth challenges KCR to debate on farmer welfare, targets BRS-BJP
Sangareddy, Aug 15 (TNT): Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday challenged BRS president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao to a debate in the Assembly on farmer welfare during the 10-year BRS rule and the two-and-a-half years of the Congress government.
Addressing a public meeting here after launching the distribution of Smart Ration Cards, Revanth Reddy sought to turn the debate on farmer welfare into a political contest between the previous BRS regime and the present Congress government, claiming that the latter had spent Rs 1.70 lakh crore on farmers in two-and-a-half years.
“Let us discuss the good we have done for farmers and the injustice the BRS inflicted upon them during its 10-year rule,” he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s Rythu Bharosa assistance of Rs 12,000 and claimed that Rs 36,000 crore had been deposited into farmers’ accounts under the scheme.
He said farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh had been waived at a cost of Rs 21,000 crore and Rs 90,000 crore had been transferred to farmers towards paddy procurement in 32 months.
Revanth Reddy also targeted the BJP and BRS over their criticism of the government’s welfare measures, asking whether the two parties had ever distributed fine-quality rice to poor families.
He said Smart Ration Cards represented the dignity of poor people and claimed that the Congress government had ensured supply of fine rice to every eligible poor household.
The Chief Minister accused the BJP and BRS of being “two sides of the same coin” and sought to project the Congress government’s welfare initiatives, including fine rice distribution, Indiramma houses and Aarogyasri, as evidence of its pro-poor approach.
Taking aim at the opposition’s criticism of the power situation, Revanth Reddy asked whether Telangana had witnessed power cuts during the Congress government’s 32-month tenure.
He claimed that 24-hour free power was being supplied to farmers and said the government was providing a Rs 500 bonus for fine-variety paddy.
Seeking to consolidate the youth vote, the Chief Minister said his government would undertake recruitment every six months and asked youngsters not to be misled by opposition propaganda.
He claimed that 72,000 government jobs had been filled in two-and-a-half years and notifications issued for another 10,000 posts.
On housing, Revanth Reddy attacked the previous BRS government over its promise to provide double-bedroom houses to the poor.
He said the Congress government had sanctioned seven lakh houses within two years and that Indiramma houses were being constructed across villages.
He also highlighted pensions for single women, handloom weavers and toddy tappers and said the government would ensure that all eligible beneficiaries received the assistance.
In a sharp political attack on the BRS, Revanth Reddy alleged that its leaders had secretly visited temples in Tamil Nadu and performed “Kshudra Pujas” against the Congress government.
He said the government had God’s blessings and referred to the filling of the Yellampalli reservoir despite El Niño-related drought conditions.
Seeking a longer political mandate, the Chief Minister appealed to people to support the Congress government until 2034 and said it was taking Telangana towards development after what he described as the damage caused during the BRS rule.
Revanth Reddy also praised Congress leader Jagga Reddy for continuing to remain with the people even after electoral defeats.
He said the decision on whether Jagga Reddy would contest from Sangareddy would be taken by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and described Jagga Reddy as “Hanuman” who would follow the directions of the party leadership.
The Chief Minister’s speech, which combined welfare claims with direct attacks on the BRS and BJP, sought to position the Congress government as pro-farmer, pro-poor and youth-oriented while challenging the opposition to defend its record in government.
TNT TS
