Hyderabad: The usual Sunday laziness in Zehra Nagar in Banjara Hills was missing as the thickly populated residential area came alive, bustling with activity with people coming out of their homes onto the roads to listen to TRS working president KT Rama Rao.
From near the IAS Quarters winding down Road No.10 all the way to and beyond the Masqati ice-cream parlour in Zehra Nagar, the entire stretch was packed with the crowds holding pink scarves and flags. Once Rao reached the locality on the specially decked up campaign vehicle, the crowds cheered him. Waving to them, Rao introduced the TRS contesting candidates from Banjara Hills, Venkateswara Nagar Colony and Jubilee Hills divisions – Gadwal Vijaya Lakshmi, Manne Kavitha Reddy and K. Suryanarayana and urged people to vote for them.
Reiterating that the BJP was looking at creating rifts between the people in the name of religion, Rao said a BJP leader had selected the Bhagyalakshmi temple at Charminar earlier this week for his protest even when there are other temples in the city, only to instigate the youth.
“Which Hyderabad you want? The Hyderabad where we have been living peacefully like brothers for the last six years or one with clashes and curfews?” he asked the people, adding that the TRS slogan was to develop Hyderabad as a global city while the BJP’s was to turn Hyderabad into a city of hate.
Stating that the TRS government was pro-poor, Rao said it was the State government that gave one lakh pattas to the poor and waived off 50 per cent of property tax paid by the people keeping in view the financial crisis in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had initiated the construction of a reservoir at Keshavpuram on the lines of the Gandipet reservoir to meet the city’s drinking water requirements for the next 30 years.
Portrait as present
Despite his hectic schedule for the ongoing election campaign, TRS working president KT Rama Rao made it sure on Sunday to respond to requests from the people. During the roadshow at Khairatabad, Bhaskar Thotla, a resident, wanted to present a portrait to Rama Rao, who was on the campaign bus. The Minister immediately asked his security personnel to get the portrait from Bhaskar.
“My son Vandith Thotla admires KT Rama Rao garu for his good work. Last year, he sketched a portrait of CM K Chandrashekhar Rao and KT Rama Rao using a pencil. Currently, he is in the US pursuing higher studies,” said an elated Bhaskar after the Minister accepted his gift.
All attention
KT Rama Rao has assured the people to develop the Punjagutta graveyard and take up beautification works. During his roadshow on Sunday in Khairatabad, a few persons held placards, trying to catch his attention, which they managed to do. Rama Rao asked them to visit his office and assured them to address their grievances.
Packing a punch
KT Rama Rao’s roadshows are becoming popular for his one-liners that deliver a punch to the opposition. On Sunday too, he was in his elements, coming up with catchy slogans as he appealed to the people to opt between “Gujarat ghulamlu kavala ledha Hyderabadi Gulabi kavala?” (Do you want Gujarat slaves or the Rose of Hyderabad?).
Another one targeted the empty promises and divisive statements of the opposition, saying “Vishayam leni vallu, visham chimmutunnaru.” (Those who lack content are spewing venom).
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