Hyderabad: Amit Shah on Saturday launched his party’s campaign for the Telangana assembly elections by lashing out at the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and urging the people to put their trust in the BJP.
Addressing a public meeting in Mahbubnagar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president said the TRS had completely failed in developing the state, even though the Narendra Modi government had extended a generous helping hand to the newly created Telangana.
Shah, who was given a rousing reception at the Begumpet airport on his arrival by a special flight, also participated in a “Swatchhta hi Sewa” (cleanliness is service) campaign event in the Domalguda area.
Later, he also addressed journalists at the state BJP office and offered prayers at a temple in old city of Hyderabad.
The BJP leader said, during the four year rule of the Modi government, Telangana had been given more the Rs2.3 trillion (Dh117 billion) in funds and the central government was committed to the development of the state. Modi government also sanctioned AIIMS and a new University for the state.
He strongly criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for imposing an early election on the state and imposing extra financial burden.
When the Prime Minister had called for “one nation, one election” and proposed simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assembly seats KCR had supported it.
“Why then, did he change his mind and decide to advance the elections to the state assembly?,”, Shah questioned. “It is part of his vote bank politics”.
He alleged that there had been no development in the state over the last four years, saying “4,500 farmers have committed suicide during last four years.”
“KCR had promised double bedroom houses for 250,000 families, has he give those houses?,” he asked. “Show me one district where he kept his promises.”
The BJP chief also said voters had not forgotten how, in Khammam, farmers were handcuffed for demanding minimum support prices and Dalits were attacked in Sricilla.
He told journalists the BJP would not enter an alliance with any party in Telangana and would contest all the constituencies on its own.
“The BJP will emerge as a decisive force in the state,” he added.
Shah denied as false, allegations that the BJP was behind the arrest warrant issued against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
“He is indulging in false propaganda to get some sympathy in the next elections”.
He recalled that Congress was in power both in Maharashtra and united Andhra Pradesh when Naidu had protested against Babili project in 2010.
Accusing the TRS of pursuing the politics of appeasement, Shah said it was due to the fear and pressure of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen that the TRS government did not celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day on September 17.
“Do they want to handover the state to present day Razakar?,” he asked.
Referring to the attempts by chief minister KCR to increase the quota for Muslims to 12% Shah wondered whether it was not politics of appeasement and vote bank.
“If the same government was to come back, vote bank politics will continue,” he said.
Replying to a question he said the BJP always fought against Asaduddin Owaisi but refused to divulge his strategy against the MIM.
A journalist had asked the question in the context of Owaisi’s challenge to Shah in the Lok Sabha’s Hyderabad constituency.
Shah’s attack evoked a quick repartee from the MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi.
“Welcome, people of Hyderabad & Telangana will defeat your strategy I request @AmitShah to contest from Hyderabad and inshallah MIM will win & BJP will not be able to retain 5 Assembly seats inshallah. What is strategy to control Oil prices, Employment for Youth,$ & ₹ BJP has NO Ans”, he tweeted.
