VHR Slams KCR Over Etala Rajender's Dismissal

Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao today slammed Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao over the latter's decision to dismiss Health Minister Etala Rajender from his post.

Referring to the reason cited by the KCR government for the dismissal, Rajender's alleged involvement in a land grab issue in Medak, VHR questioned the CM for his "hasty" decision to order an enquiry into the matter when he had not taken any such steps when similar allegations were levelled against minister Ch Malla Reddy and MLA Yadagiri Reddy.

(The CM's decision came after some landowners in Medak alleged that they had been "coerced" into selling their lands to Rajender's Jamuna Hatcheries. They said that the hatchery underwent some expansions for which it had "bought" about 100 acres of land, adjacent to the existing structure, belonging to them.)

Speaking to the media, the senior leader asked the CM to clarify the reasons for the differential treatment meted out to the leaders of the same party for similar alleged crimes.

He also asked why KCR had failed to respond on the issue of the encroachment of lands belonging to Dalits in Keesara or the encroachment of the lands belonging to the Gandhi Trust lands and the Waqf.

VHR, like many others in the state, hinted that Rajender's "open criticism" of the BJP-led union government some days back was the main reason behind KCR's "swift reaction" to the allegations made against the minister.

He then demanded that the CM order an enquiry into all leaders suspected of land grabbing across political parties if he was actually serious about addressing the problem instead of targeting Rajender alone.

Rao also advised the CM to focus on managing the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the state, and on preventing private hospitals from looting gullible and hapless patients.

VHR is not the only one raising questions about the TRS supremo's motivations behind dismissing Etala Rajender from his post - TJS chief M Kodandaram has not only raised similar questions but has openly extended support to Rajender as well.

Many others in Telangana remain unconvinced by the allegations, especially since the minister has so far had a spotless two-decade-long political career.