BJP leader and former minister Etala Rajender today criticised the Telangana government for trying to "dupe" the SC community in the state with its
Dalit empowerment program.
Speaking to the media in Huzurabad's Jammikunta area, the leader claimed, "A fresh effort is being made by the TRS government to cheat the SCs of our state once again. The funds meant for the SCs were first diverted by the government due to its lack of commitment to the matter of SC welfare. But, now it is trying to cover its tracks by introducing a special package for the community."
He accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of "dumping" the SC community and of "neglecting" them for the past seven years, and charged, "If the CM had any commitment to SC welfare, the group would have been able to benefit from the development the state has seen at least to some extent. Since this is not the case, none of the minority groups of Telangana have been able to develop and flourish under the rule of the current government."
Rajender then said that the TRS supremo needed to stop "cheating" the very people whose support had allowed him to become CM.
"No funds allocated to SC welfare were spent properly. They were instead diverted by the TRS government. If it had spent the funds properly, the SCs would have benefited greatly in the past seven years. However, the KCR regime is known for neglecting the people, mainly the SC, STs and BCs. While it is known for spending money to secure its electoral interests, the government seems far less inclined to spend on the welfare of the people," he alleged.
Commenting on the upcoming by-election in Huzurabad, the BJP leader said, "However, the people will not be duped any longer. Even the lavish spendings of the TRS government will not help it win the Huzurabad seat this time. The people of the region are not ready to put up with the TRS' money tactics and muscle power any longer."
Rajender also accused the KCR government of failing to provide the promised two-bedroom houses to the poor and land to the Dalits.
"The leaders and supporters of the TRS were able to wrangle contracts for the housing and other projects. The lands for the same have gone to the henchmen of the pink party. In fact, the provision of free housing has been limited to Gajwel, Siddipet, and Siricilla - the constituencies of KCR, Finance Minister T Harish Rao, and IT Minister K T Rama Rao respectively. If the government was truly committed to welfare, people in the other regions in the state would also have been given the free housing facility," he asserted.