The main Opposition Congress and other parties expressed disappointment over the Governor’s address to the joint sitting of the Telangana Legislature on Friday stating that it is silent even on the priority issues of the Government and reflected an attempt to cover its failures.
Although it was fourth address to the joint sitting of Legislature by the Governor, it read like reeling out the routine stuff without any emphasis on the situation on the ground with regard to implementation of welfare schemes and development programmes, Congress leaders K. Jana Reddy, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Md. Ali Shabbir said in their reaction.
They criticised the Government for not making a mention of the much-publicised double-bedroom housing scheme, 3 acres land to Dalits, 12% reservation each to Muslim and tribal communities, fee reimbursement, KG to PG free education among others.
Even the achievements claimed by the Government in energy sector were the result of projects taken up by the previous Congress government, but there was not even a passing reference to that effect, the Congress leaders remarked.
“In spite of tall claims by the Government on ease of doing business, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has put it on record that flow of investments into Telangana were low compared to States such as Gujarat and Karnataka”, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out. He also expressed doubts over the Government’s claims over the GSDP growth stating that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had himself said earlier this year (2016-17) that State’s economic growth was not on expected lines, when asked for release of dues of fee reimbursement and farm loan waiver in one go.
Alleging that the Government had insulted the institution of Governor by sending him the speech without Cabinet approval, A. Revanth Reddy of TDP sought to know how signatures of all ministers were taken when a couple of them were on tour. He also questioned the Government claims of corruption-free rule and asked why the complaints received at the toll-free number and action taken was not being made known to people.
Criticising the Government for “covering up its failures by omitting them from the Governor’s address” N. Ramchander Rao and Ch. Ramachandra Reddy of BJP said there was no mention of Centre’s assistance to State in various programmes.
