KTR slams Congress for ‘settlers’ remark
IT minister says party wants to create divide in state
IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Wednesday accused Congress Party of trying to divide Seemandhra people living in Telangana by terming them as ‘settlers’. He supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks on the Congress, who termed it as 'bailgaadi', with reference to senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
“While the TRS is calling all people living in Telangana state as Telanganites, the Congress is dividing them by calling them ‘settlers’ for selfish political gains in 2019 elections. They are trying to divide people and rake up regional emotions to secure few seats in 2019 elections,” Rao remarked.
During a talk with mediapersons, Rama Rao said TPCC Chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has been openly giving statements that the Congress will offer tickets to settlers within GHMC limits for 2019 polls and by doing so, they are dividing people living in Hyderabad.
“During Telangana statehood agitation days, they carried a vicious campaign against TRS saying that if Telangana state is formed, there will be no security to lives and properties of Seemandhra people in Hyderabad. However, we have proved it wrong in these four years of TRS rule. In fact, they feel more secure and are living happily in Telangana. With 2019 elections approaching, the Congress is again trying to rake up regional emotions with settlers’ issue. There are no settlers here. For TRS, all those living in Hyderabad or elsewhere in Telangana are Telanganites. I urge Seeman-dhra people to remain cautious against such disruptive forces,” Rao added.
Referring to Congress’ threat that they will send the CM and his family members to jail for corruption, after they come to power in 2019, Rao said: "This will be decided by the courts and not by Uttam or Kodandaram."
He ridiculed Uttam's claims that the Congress will bag 75 Assembly seats out of 119 and form government in Telangana. "Maybe, he is referring to Congress winning 75 Lok Sabha seats in the entire country. They could not win even 20 LS seats in any state."
Rao said except Uttam and Jana Reddy, everyone in Congress is trying to join TRS if they offer tickets but TRS has been refusing because it can't accommodate all of them.
During Telangana statehood agitation days, they carried a vicious campaign against TRS, saying that if Telangana state is formed there would be no security the to lives and properties of Seemandhra people in Hyderabad. However, we have proved it wrong in these four years of TRS rule. In fact, they feel more secure and are living happily in Telangana. With 2019 elections approaching, the Congress is again trying to rake up regional emotions by by raising ‘settlers’ issue. — K. TARAKA RAMA RAO, Minister for IT, municipal administration and urban development