Harish Rao warns Rahul Gandhi against visiting Hyderabad without fulfilling promises to auto drivers

BRS leader T. Harish Rao warned Rahul Gandhi against visiting Hyderabad unless the government clears Rs 24,000 dues per auto driver, threatening statewide protests. He accused the Revanth Reddy administration of neglect and demanded ex-gratia for deceased drivers and immediate payment of outstanding aid.

Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao warned Congress MP Rahul Gandhi against stepping into Hyderabad again without addressing the plight of thousands of auto-rickshaw drivers. Demanding that the State government immediately clear Rs 24,000 due to each driver, as promised during the 2023 Assembly elections, he said there would be Statewide protests if the issue remained unresolved.

“Rahul Gandhi rode in autos for votes during elections and abandoned them after coming to power. If he comes to Hyderabad again, our auto drivers will block him in Shamshabad,” he said.

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The BRS staged a symbolic protest across Hyderabad on Monday, with leaders travelling in autos to express solidarity with drivers. Harish Rao, accompanied by Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao, travelled from his residence in Kokapet to Erragadda and then to Telangana Bhavan, interacting with drivers about their hardships.

Speaking on the occasion, the senior BRS legislator said the Revanth Reddy government was betraying all sections of society including farmers, women, employees and auto drivers.

“The promises of Rs 12,000 annual aid, Auto Nagar and Auto Welfare Board were reduced to empty slogans. Not a rupee has reached the drivers in two years,” he charged, estimating the dues at Rs 1,500 crore.

Harish Rao criticised the government for finding thousands of crores to beautify Musi River while denying Rs 1,000 monthly assistance to struggling auto drivers.

“Revanth Reddy carries cash bags to Delhi but has no empathy for Telangana’s auto drivers,” he said, adding that free bus rides for women had further hit the livelihood of auto drivers.

Demanding Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia for 161 drivers who died by suicide, he urged auto drivers across the State to unite and defeat the Congress in the Jubilee Hills bypoll, to teach it a lesson and compel it to implement its electoral promises.