Centre not ‘hostile’ to us: KCR

On the possibility of TRS becoming a coalition partner of the NDA at the Centre, Mr. Rao merely said that it was not on the agenda.

Maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “doing his best” given the “big agenda” of transforming India he has undertaken, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that the relations between his State and the Centre are not “inimical.”

In an exclusive 70-minute free-wheeling interview at the official camp office here on Thursday, Mr. Rao fielded questions on a wide range of issues from what a new State has meant for a common person to ties of his government with the Union government.

Excerpts from his interview would be carried in

The Hindu on June 2, which marks the anniversary of formation of the State of Telangana. Mr. Rao took office as the first Chief Minister of Telangana on June 2, 2014.

Asked to his give assessment of the first year of the Modi government, the Chief Minister said that the principles of the Prime Minister, by and large “are not bad and he is in favour of the States.”

On the possibility of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) becoming a coalition partner of the NDA at the Centre, Mr. Rao merely said that it was not on the agenda.

‘Laudable’

Mr. Rao said that Mr. Modi had improved the devolution of central resources to the States “which is laudable.” Citing the example of a meeting of the sub-committee of the Niti Ayog in Bhopal earlier in the day, the Telangana Chief Minister said that it was a good example of “conversion” of devolution.

According to Mr. Rao, the NDA government at the Centre had changed the whole concept of devolution.

Centre yet to allot coal for State: KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving more importance to the States.

“Good indication”

“Earlier, the States used to go to the Planning Commission. Now, Niti Ayog is coming to the States. Today, I attended a meeting of Niti Ayog in Madhya Pradesh. It is a good indication,” he said.

Stating that the Centre was not adverse to the Telangana State, the Chief Minister, however, said that certain things with the Modi government are “painful to me.”

Asked to elaborate, Mr. Rao said that despite consistent requests, the Centre had not allocated coal to the proposed NTPC power project at Ramagundam.

“One year has gone by. The Government of India should have allotted coal by now,” he said, adding that NTPC was mandated by the Act to provide power to Telangana.