Chidambaram Slams KCR Government For Failure On All Fronts

Former union minister Chidambaram today said that his association with Telangana dated back to 2008, and lamented the condition of the State 10 years after statehood for the region.

Speaking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan today, Chidambaram said that 10 years after the formation of Telangana State, there was dissatisfaction among almost all the people. He claimed that prices and unemployment had increased tremendously with the inflation in the State being the highest in the country, the budget for the education sector had been hugely reduced, and the State's debt had soared to Rs 3.68 lakh crore.

"Inflation has increased sharply in Telangana, and is higher than the national average. Telangana in fact has the highest inflation in the country today, and the prices of essential commodities have sky-rocketed thanks to VAT being overcharged and the prices of petrol, diesel and gas resultantly becoming quite high. The unemployment rate in Telangana is also very high, with the rural unemployment rate higher than the national average. In the 2018 Assembly elections campaigning KCR promised an unemployment allowance but cheated the unemployed youth by never giving it," Chidambaram said.

"There are 1.91 lakh vacant posts in the State including 20,000 teacher posts that have not been filled. More than two lakh unemployed people are registered with TSPSC. The State's debt had swelled to Rs 3.68 lakh crore, making it very difficult to implement welfare schemes. Allocations for education and health have fallen drastically," he added.

Chidambaram requested the people to give one chance to the Congress to put the State's economy back on track. He said that the party would implement its six guarantees if iwas voted into power.

"The Congress should win in the Telangana Assembly elections with the highest majority. We will then develop Telangana by implementing the six guarantee schemes that we have promised. We will also fill up the vacant government positions and reduce the prices of essential commodities," he said.