No leader in independent India has done what CM KCR has: KTR

In the 75 years of Indian independence, no other leader had strived for development of the agriculture sector as was done by the Chief Minister.

Hyderabad: Industries Minister KT Rama Rao said in the 75 years of Independence, no other leader strived for the development of the agriculture sector as Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao did.

Briefing about Telangana’s welfare programmes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, 24-hour free power supply and sufficient water for the farming community, he said only extraordinary leaders with an extraordinary vision can come up with such programmes.

“No Prime Minister or Chief Minister has introduced such innovative welfare programmes for the farming community,” he said during the ‘Motion of Thanks’ on the Governor’s address in the State Assembly on Saturday.

Citing a NABARD report, Rama Rao said Telangana stood third after Punjab and Haryana in terms of agricultural produce. Rice production, which was 44.4 lakh tonnes in 2014-15, increased to 1.02 crore tonnes in 2020-21. With 49.44 million dollars of investment between October 2019 and September 2021, Telangana was also leading in attracting foreign investments in the farm sector in the country.

Thanks government employees

The Minister thanked government employees in all departments, including police, health, education and ‘Singareni comrades’, for their support in the effective implementation of Telangana’s welfare and development programmes.

Counters BJP’s claims on farmers’ welfare

Lashing out at BJP MLA Raghunandan Rao for his comments that 24-hour free power supply was not being extended to the entire farming community, the BRS working president said power connections in the farm sector in Telangana increased from 19 lakh to 27 lakh connections.

The BJP-led Centre was not willing to extend free power to the farmers in the country but waived corporate loans worth Rs 12 lakh crore. Instead of supporting farmers, the BJP government was directing State governments to install meters for pump sets in agricultural fields and forcing them to give up power subsidies, he said, appealing to the farming community to closely observe these policies.

This is why Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao launched the ‘Ab Ki Baar Kisan Sarkar’ campaign, he said, adding that the power of the people was greater than those in power. “The Telangana movement is an example,” he said.

Power sector achievements

Stating that former Minister Eatala Rajender was well aware of the Chief Minister’s focus on the power sector, he said Telangana’s installed power capacity increased from 7,778 MW in 2015 to 18,000 MW power.

On the contrary, the Gujarat government imposed power holidays and many places were facing severe water shortage. A BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh warned the BJP government that he would join the farmers’ agitations in demand for sufficient power supply, he said.

The BJP government replicated Telangana’s Mission Bhagiratha as Har Ghar Jal. “We welcome the Har Ghar Jal programme but do not spread hatred and communal differences in every ghar,” he said.

No appreciation from Modi

The Telangana government built the world’s largest lift irrigation system and Hyderabad bagged the Green City award twice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rigorously campaigns on Vocal for Local and Atmanirbhar Bharat but he never refers to or mentions Telangana’s achievements, said Rama Rao, asking: “Why this hate towards Telangana?”

Countering the BJP’s rhetoric campaign on the family rule, the Minister said there was a family rule in Telangana, but of a different kind. “We are a family of four crore people and the Chief Minister is a brother to many, a father for others and a leader for all sections,” he said.

Discrimination towards Telangana

On the Centre’s discrimination towards Telangana, he said the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation was allotted four mining blocks on the nomination, while Telangana’s appeal to allocate blocks on a nomination basis for Singareni Collieries was not considered.

Explaining the Centre’s modus operandi, he said the Vizag Steel Plant was pushed into losses and later a corporate company would take over the unit. “The BJP government should reconsider Telangana’s appeal to allot mining blocks to Singareni on a nomination basis.”