Apologise Amit Shah…Demands KCR : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Apologise Amit Shah…Demands KCR

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Wednesday (24^th May 2017) demanded an unconditional apology from BJP National president Amit Shah for uttering blatant lies, falsehood and insulting the Telangana state and its people. Confronting and countering Amit Shah’s utterances with detailed statistics, the CM said, if Amit Shah or the local BJP leaders or to that matter anyone who dares him to prove wrong he is prepared to quit the chief ministership. He demanded Amit Shah to tender his apology before he leaves the State and correct himself.

            Addressing a media conference at Pragathi Bhavan, the Chief Minister repeatedly proved Amit Shah’s comments and statements as baseless and far from truth and charged the BJP National President with indulging in malicious propaganda to show Telangana State in poor light and attempting to scuttle its growth. The CM said Telangana State is one of the six states along with Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Haryana which have been contributing to the Nation and its economy. In return the Telangana State is getting whatever it is rightly due under the federal structure and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and no favour whatsoever is shown to the state by the Centre. CM also said in foreign exchange Telangana is earning for the centre to a tune of one lakh crores and that is also a contribution by the state to the centre.

The CM However said, he had a great respect towards Prime Minister Modi but was pained to see a leader like Amit Shah President of a national party which is heading power at the Centre is indulging in utter falsehood without applying his mind. To a query, the CM said he found no danger to his relationships with the PM against this background. He also said that having good faith in the leadership of Modi, he had extended his support to him during the demonetisation which none of the BJP CMs did.

            Giving the statistics about the financial assistance given by Centre from the day the Telangana state is formed on June 2, 2014 to this day, 24 May 2017, the CM said the state received Rs 67, 390 Crores from Government of India. The split of these funds are: Rs. 37, 773 Crores towards Tax Devolution, Rs. 18, 574 Crores towards Central Schemes, Rs. 2055 Crores towards National Highways, Rs. 1016 Crores towards special funding in accordance with Reorganization Act, Rs. 5, 160 Crores for local bodies as per the recommendations of finance commission, Rs. 855 Crores towards NDRF and Rs. 1,957 towards CST. Hence the claim of Amit Shah that the centre had give Rs. One lakh crores is wrong said CM.

The CM further said that in 2016-2017 financial year an amount of  Rs 50,013 Crore (Income Tax, Rs 32, 186 Crore, Service Tax, Rs 7671 Crore, Customs Tax, Rs 3328 Crore, Central Excise Rs 6828 Crore) was given as the State’s share to the centre. As part of Central Devolution (including the national highways) it is only Rs 24,561 Crore that was given to the state said CM. This means the state had given more (Rs. 25, 452 Crores) to the centre which is more than what has been given by centre.

The CM further questioned Shah that, “Let Amit Shah and the BJP leaders answer this from where the state got additional funds? Where is that Rs 20,000 Crore additional assistance that the Centre gave as claimed by Shah? Show me that the centre gave at least Rs 200 more?” the CM asked. As far as starting the universities like the Tribal, Horticulture and Veterinary, these universities are created under the Bifurcation Act and so far the Tribal University has not been sanctioned and Amit Shah says the centre gave Rs 40,800 Crore for the universities which again are totally false!

The CM said that last year also Amit Shah came here and said certain things which the local BJP leaders ran a camping for week but he did not react. “I will tolerate anyone who talks against me personally. I will not keep quiet when Telangana State is belittled and insulted with falsehood. If I don’t react now people may think I am endorsing what Amit Shah said. Amit Shah or another Shah for me Telangana State is Badshah. I have seen many leaders like Amit Shah and have weathered many a storms. What the BJP is doing now is not even a small wind. I met Amit Shah only once till this day,” the CM said.

The CM reminded Amit Shah that several new and innovative initiatives taken by the Telangana government have won appreciation from Chief Ministers of other states, Central ministers including the PM, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman and even from heads of States abroad. “My competition is not with the neighbouring state or other states, or even Centre. I am in global competition and literally competing with countries abroad. Union Minister Uma Bharathi told other states especially regions like Bundelkhand to emulate the Telangana State model. UNDP and Niti Aayog have praised Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha and recommended for the sanction of Rs 25,000 Crores which the Centre so far not released. Let Amit Shah go to Delhi and get the dues from the Centre to the State. He also reminded Amit Shah that not even a single project from the State is declared as a national project. Though, 7 Mandals and Sileru power project were illegally transferred to the AP, the CM said he kept quiet. There are several programes of the Centre like the Model schools which were discontinued by the Centre but were continued by the state government. Though there is budget cut for the salaries of Aanganwadi and Asha programmes, the Telangana government is paying them increased salaries.

Stating that the Telangana State had initiated several welfare schemes which are first in the country, the CM said the Centre has allocated Rs 52, 392 Crore for SC welfare while the Telangana State allocated Rs 14,375 Crore, for STs, the Centre gave 31, 919 Crore while the Telangana State Rs 8,165 Crore which is five times higher than the Centre. Rs 17,000 Crore farmers’ loan was waived and an innovative first of its kind farm policy is being pursued by the government to end the problems of the farming community forever. Though the state has asked for Rs 6, 076 Crore the drought and cloud burst, the Centre gave precious little Rs 855 Crore. The centre is due to the states an amount of Rs. 10, 190 towards CST dues and Rs 1431 Crore towards CAMPA funds and let Amit Shah and other BJP leaders get them released suggested CM KCR.

The CM took strong exception to the remarks made in sarcastic manner on Telangana. He said he was particularly upset over Amit Shah’s remarks on the high court’s bifurcation issue. “The Centre is not bifurcating the High Court despite several reminders and even the matter was brought to the notice of the Supreme Court. He said Amit Shah’s remarks on High Court reminded him of the remarks made by LK Advani when he was the union home minister and Deputy PM. “Advani asked during the height of Telangana struggle where the need for Telangana state is when Hyderabad is very much its capital?”

The CM also took a dig at the “gimmicks” played by Amit Shah while visiting the dalit Basties. “He had lunch prepared outside at a mango grove and ate it at a dalit’s house which is protested by Dalits. He made a senior BJP leader and dalit leader stand behind him while he and other ate sitting on the chairs. Dalits of the State watched this and I have seen several such cheap gimmicks. “Amit Shah should realise where is he standing and what is he speaking, is it his own script or the script given by local BJP leaders? In this context, the CM also reminded how the BJP for several years played games on Telangana issue. Everyone knows what did BJP done after passing the two states resolution in Kakinada in 1999.

When his attention was drawn to a tweet by the local BJP that the CM is rattled by Amit Shah’s statements, the CM rebutted by saying that he is one leader who will not be rattled by any one. The BJP which could not win even a single division in GHMC polls is the least that he is bothered. “I have a detailed survey done on the prospects of each political party if there is an election now, the BJP will not get even a single seat. In last elections they got five seats in the confusion. He said he would make public results of the survey later. However, the CM clarified that Amit Shah as a political leader is free to express his views but not unnecessary sarcasm, falsehood and utter lies. “I hope wisdom will prevail upon Amit Shah and he will correct himself,” the CM said. In this context, the CM also recalled how Amit Shah’s flippant remarks have proved costly to the BJP in Delhi polls especially his observation that getting black money issue was nothing but an election Jumla.

Answering another question, the CM observed that Telangana is known for its Ganga Jamuna Tehjeeb. “In 1927, when Mahatma Gandhi visited VV College in Jambagh in the city, he said he was impressed with the people here who are living in harmony under the Nizam’s rule. Mahatma Gandhi said that people in north should learn couple of things from Telangana,” the CM recalled. He also said nothing stops BJP from dreaming about coming to power in Telangana State. “I can also dream about leading the country, but it will be a dream only and may not be a reality,” he said.

The CM also advised Amit Shah to stop performing Tamashas in Telangana state. ‘People here can see through the things. After a prolonged 60 years movement and 14 years battle we have achieved Telangana state.

On the Muslim reservation issue, the CM once again reminded the BJP leaders in general and Amit Shah in particular what the PM spoke at the BJP National Executive meeting Odisha where he advocated for uplifting the backward among the Muslims. “I have personally spoke to the PM and explained him the need to hike the reservations for those backward among Muslims which he said he would consider. “ In any case if the Centre accepts it is fine otherwise we are not beggars and we will fight for our rights.”