BRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday intensified his attack on Congress, claiming that the party delayed Telangana's establishment and is now preferring only three hours of electricity supply to farmers, news agency PTI reported. Rao, who started his campaign for the November 30 Assembly elections following a Deepavali break, stated that drinking water remains an issue in places where big rivers such as the Ganga flow, and that Telangana is the only state in the country that offers tapped drinking water to every tribal habitation.
"The Ganga river is there in Uttar Pradesh. The chief minister of that state also comes (to Telangana) wearing a lungi, for campaigning. Even in Uttar Pradesh where there is the Ganga river, provision of drinking water is not certain even today. There is no drinking water even in states where there are many rivers," he was quoted by PTI in its report.
Rao, who spoke at rallies in Aswaraopet, Burgampadu, and Narsampet, said that YSR Telangana Party president YS Sharmila is plotting vengeance on BRS candidate Sudarshan Reddy in Narsampet.
"Narsmapet has a specialty. You had protested when 'integrationists' (those favoured united Andhra Pradesh during Telangana statehood agitation) and their 'chamchas' wanted to rule over here. Because of the protest, YS Sharmila is said to be wanting to take revenge on Sudardhan Reddy. She is said to be sending wads of money," he said.
"Should YS Sharmila's wads of currency win or our Mission Bhagiradha drinking water? Our 24-hour electricity should win or who should win? Should we lose if those from other state send wads of money and want to defeat us," he said.
Rao said that Congress leaders supported just three hours of providing electricity to farmers, the termination of his government's 'Dharani' land records management system, and that spending on the 'Rythu Bandhu' initiative was wasteful.
"They (Congress leaders) say they will throw 'Dharani' into the Bay of Bengal, 'Rythu Bandhu' is a wasteful expenditure. More dangerously, they say 24-hour power supply is unnecessary, KCR is wasting the funds and three-hour power supply is enough," he said.
He claimed that his government's 'Dharani' integrated land records management system facilitated direct benefit distribution to farmers under welfare initiatives.
"This irresponsible Congress party that has no sympathy for farmers is talking about abolishing 'Dharani'. If 'Dharani' is removed, then how will you get money under 'Rythu Bandhu'. They are not answering when I am asking," he said.
elangana Congress President and MP A Revanth Reddy took issue with BRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's remarks that Congress leaders are opposing his government's pro-farmer programmes.
According to him, the Congress party has a history of assisting farmers by providing free electricity.
Revanth Reddy, who attended electoral campaign rallies in Kodangal seat, said that the BRS failed to provide the underprivileged with double bedroom houses as promised.
BRS officials had also promised to distribute three acres of land to Dalits and create colleges, he added, referring to allegedly broken commitments.
According to Revanth Reddy, leaders who have not kept their pledges in ten years are urging people to help them win again.