Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has once again exposed his proximity to the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), by extending support to BJP-led NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh in the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman election, said Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.
At the same time, the Chief Minister was so “afraid” of Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s proposed meeting with Muslim intellectuals in the city that the government was bringing pressure on the management of the college, where the meeting was planned, not to give permission.
Mr. Reddy, who had an informal chat with reporters here on Thursday, alleged that Mr. Rao was an undeclared ally of the BJP and “an agent” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For some reason, Mr. Rao was trying to please Mr. Modi and he should reveal the reasons for it.
Women’s welfare
The TPCC chief accused the government of trying to sabotage the proposed visit of Mr. Gandhi to the Osmania University campus. Everyone knew that no TRS leader could enter the campus after the way the government had treated the students and unemployed youth and now it was resorting to cheap tactics to deny permission, he alleged.
He reminded that Mr. Rahul Gandhi was invited by the students’ unions. However, he said the OU Vice-Chancellor was yet to inform them of his decision.
Mr. Reddy alleged that the TRS government was not serious about women’s welfare and empowerment and it had even diverted Abhaya Hastham funds meant for women SHGs. Mr. Rahul Gandhi would highlight issues concerning members of women SHG at his meeting at Shamshabad on August 13.
Permission denied
On reports that the government was not willing to provide accommodation to Mr. Gandhi at Haritha Plaza Hotel at Begumpet, he spoke to Chief Secretary S. K. Joshi, over the telephone and expressed anger. He sought clarification over Mr. Gandhi not being provided protocol as Member of Parliament. He told Mr. Joshi to act as per rules.
In response, the Chief Secretary promised that he would get back to him after looking into the issue.
