Assembly witnesses heated exchanges over Telangana

The morning session of the Assembly was rocked on Friday with heated exchanges between the Congress and the TRS leaders.

Initiating the debate on the no-confidence motion, TRS MLA Harish Rao criticized that the Congress party was playing with the lives of the Telangana people. He said though it was a matter of concern, it was imminent for the TRS to go for no-confidence motion. The Congress party betrayed the people of Telangana and accused the Congress of being responsible for the suicides of innocent people. 

Intervening Harish Rao’s speech, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy refuted charges levelled by Harish Rao and said he should not make personal allegations.   Kiran Reddy said he became Chief Minister not with the good offices of the TRS or any other party, he had been chosen as CM by the Congress high command. Harish Rao should remember that he became minister with the good offices of the Congress party and he should also remember that the Congress party had made a Telangana leader as Prime Minister of India referring to PV Narasimha Rao. 

Reacting to Kiran's comments, Harish Rao asked why the Congress party did not give land for funeral of PV Narasimha Rao in Delhi and why the PV memorial meeting had not been performed at Gandhi Bhavan. 

Interfering on the debate, Congress member Jagga Reddy criticised that TRS was surviving by deceiving the people of Telangana. He said KCR did not care for the labourers when he was the Union Minister. 

TRSLP leader Eetela Rajender intervened and condemned charges against KCR. It was not proper on the party of Jagga Reddy to comment on the leader who was not present in the assembly. Harish Rao said Telangana region was subjected to injustice as when there were 3 JNTUs in Rayalaseema, it should be eight in Telangana, but it had only one. Osmania, Gandhi and Kakatiya medical colleges were not established during united Andhra, Harish Rao reminded.

Reacting sharply, CM Kiran took strong exception over the language used by Harish Rao. He said he would not do favour for any region with fear. "I knew well which region should be given priority which is not. If you (Harish Rao) think we are allocating funds with fear. Just note it down we will not give even single paise. Do whatever you wanted to do," said Kiran completely losing his tempers. Continuing his speech further Kiran said he was also born and studied in Hyderabad. He was a hardcore Telanganite than him, he added.

Later, giving clarification the CM said he opposed the way Harish Rao spoke. He said Nizam medical college was achieved with the effort of the Congress Party and questioned what TRS had done for Telangana. He has no intention to develop or ignore any region and recalled that the Srikrishna Committee had opined that Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra were also backward regions. The Congress Govt was allocating crores of rupees for irrigation projects in Telangana, the Chief Minister added.

Lamenting the charges by Kiran, Harish Rao said he would not have any objection to withdraw his remarks, but the Chief Minister should not talk like a common man. He explained that the Congress Government had promised to provide 9-hour power supply in 2009, but even 7-hour power was not ensured now, Harish Rao said and added that power supply was disconnected if anybody failed to pay the bill.

CLP leader Eetela Rajender objected the Chief Minister's remarks and demanded an apology. He should not comment against the people's representatives.

-Sakshipost