Kamareddy, June 19 (Hydnow): Former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for not attending the last rites of Galwan Valley martyr Colonel Santosh Babu.
He was addressing a gathering after distributing food kits at Classic Function Hall, Kamareddy among poor and physically handicapped people on the occasion of birthday of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday. The meeting began with the participants observing two-minute silence in honour of the martyrs of Galwan Valley who were killed in a clash with Chinese Army.
Speaking on the occasion, Shabbir strongly criticised the Chief Minister for not visiting the Hakimpet Air Force Station or Suryapet to pay homage to martyr Col. Santosh Babu. He said Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan herself visited the Air Force Station to pay tributes to the martyr when his body was brought to the city from Delhi. He said that the Chief Minister should’ve personally attended the last rites of Santosh Babu, as he was the son of Telangana. But the Chief Minister had no time to visit the Air Force Station, attend the last rites or at least pay a visit to the family later, he said.
He pointed out that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel not only attended the last rites, but was among the people who carried out the body of martyr on their shoulders. This is the kind of respect a Chief Minister must display towards the martyrs, he said.
Ali pointed out that the Chief Minister had spent several hours with the families when some film personalities like Hari Krishna and Vijaya Nirmala passed away in the past. By not attending the last rites of Col. Santosh Babu, the Chief Minister has shown utter disrespect to all the martyrs, Indian Army and the entire nation. He demanded that the Chief Minister immediately visit Suryapet to meet the family members of martyr Col. Santosh Babu and announce Rs. 1 crore ex-gratia, a house or plot and government job for a family member.
“Those soldiers have laid down their lives serving the country and it is our duty to take care of their families in every possible manner,” he said.
He also condemned the TRS Government for delaying the construction of Pranahita Chevella project. He said only Rs. 211 crore were spent during the last six years on this project. At this pace, he said the project would remain incomplete even after 100 years.
Ali alleged that over Rs. 1.80 lakh crore of public money was wasted by the KCR Government without creating an irrigating facility for even one acre of land. He said irrigation facilities for about 2 lakh acres of land could be created by spending about Rs. 2,000 crore on Packages 20, 21 & 22 of Pranahita Chevella project. He said that the Congress party would launch a massive agitation on this issue after the end of Coronavirus pandemic.
The Congress leader said that the TRS Government was conspiring to give away farmers’ land to private parties in the guise of regulated farming. He said the farmers were being forced to adopt regulated farming. Else they were being deprived of all benefits. He said nearly 36% farmers across Telangana were yet to receive financial assistance under Rythu Bandhu Scheme. He said no efforts were being made by the government to prevent the supply of spurious seeds.
Shabbir alleged that CM KCR has turned into a money lender who only thinks about his profits. He said at one side KCR Govt enacted the drama of helping the poor by giving them Rs. 1500 during lockdown. However, this amount was recovered, along with interest, by sending people erratic and inflated electricity bills. (Hydnow)