Amit Shah fires Dalit salvo at KCR, promises BJP win in Telangana

The BJP leaders mobilised a huge crowd in Munugode to set right any polarisation that might have occurred in favour of TRS on Saturday after the chief ministers’ stentorious address.

Rabble-rousing in Munugode

Shah, after admitting former Munugode Congress MLA K Rajagopal Reddy — whose resignation necessitated the by-election — into the party fold, said that his re-election would set the tone for the uprooting of the TRS from Telangana for good.

“This by-election should not be construed as a routine one. It is very significant as it will mark the beginning of the end of the TRS government in the state,” he said.

Shah also pointed out that he would personally guarantee that KCR’s regime would cease to exist after the next election if the people elected Reddy now. “This is my personal guarantee,” he said.

The senior BJP leader said he was certain that the saffron party would come to power in the next election and then the Telangana state would be on the gravy train of development.

He appealed to the electorate to vote for the BJP to smite the family rule of KCR, his corrupt administration, and his penchant for not keeping promises.

“The KCR family benefited a lot after the formation of the state in 2014. No one got employment in Telangana, but the family members of KCR did. For him, the Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project has become an ATM,” said Shah.

He also hit out at KCR for not celebrating Telangana Liberation Day apparently.

“KCR is afraid of the AIMIM, and that was the reason why he is not doing it. It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who liberated Telangana from the stranglehold of the Nizams. In fact, KCR had promised to celebrate 17 September as Telangana Liberation Day, but he has not kept his word. As soon as the BJP takes over next year, it will celebrate the occasion every year,” he said.

Amit Shah plays Dalit card

Shah also tried to focus on Dalit issues as the BJP was now concentrating to get them on board.

He drew their attention to the promise that KCR made to make a Dalit the chief minister, which he did not do.

“If you elect him again, this time around it would be KTR who would become the chief minister and not a Dalit,” he said.

Shah also reminded people about the Dalit Bandhu scheme, which KCR announced amid much fanfare ahead of the Huzurabad by-election in 2021, and said it was yet to be made available all over the state.

He asked whether Dalits in Munugode were receiving ₹10 lakh under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, and censured the chief minister for making promises and forgetting about them.

Shah also referred to the chief minister’s promise of allotting three acres of land to each Dalit family in the state, which he did not keep.

Boulevard of broken promises?

He also asked the youth whether they were getting the unemployment dole of ₹3,000, which KCR had promised.

He asked why two BHK houses had been allotted to all those from weaker sections of society in Telangana, as promised.

On the contrary, Shah said, the TRS government was hampering the implementation of the free toilets and crop insurance schemes of the Central government.

He blamed KCR for the prices of petroleum products in the state, which he said were the highest in the country.

In fact, when the prices were going up, the Centre had slashed it twice but the state government did not come forward to cut VAT, he claimed.

Rajagopal Reddy clarifies stand

Reddy, in his address, explained that he had resigned as he could not implement development works for the constituency because of the unhelpful attitude of the chief minister.

“There is no way I could see him as he does not give appointments. This is why I resigned, which prompted KCR to focus on the constituency now,” he said.

The leader also said he was not an opportunist, because he resigned before joining the BJP. “This TRS government should go for the state to develop,” he said.

Other leaders who spoke at the occasion included Union minister G Kishan Reddy, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Rajya Sabha member K Laxman, and party vice-president DK Aruna.