
Congress will implement welfare and development programmes for the next 20 years, says Deputy CM Bhatti
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has asserted that the Congress government will continue to implement the spree of people-centric policies for all round development of the State for the next 20 years.
After a decade of lull, people have started reaping the benefits of the welfare and development programmes launched by the people's government in Telangana and these are set to continue for the next two decades. Telangana has become the role model for other States with several innovative programmes like caste census and other States are enquiring about the successful implementation of these programmes.
Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka was addressing a public meeting at Achampet on Monday after launching several development works. He launched a trenchant attack on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi alleging that the party led by Opposition leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao looted the State for 10 long years. 'Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao is now lamenting that nobody is approaching him after losing power,' he said. He recalled that the previous government had kept payment of ₹10,000 crore dues to employees pending and the Congress government had cleared more than ₹8,000 crore in the past one-and-a-half years. The balance dues would be cleared in phases as the government had to spend huge amounts in the implementation of several welfare programmes.
He took objections to claims from a section that Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao was a 'God-like figure' pointing out that his own daughter MLC K. Kavitha had revealed that there were demons surrounding Mr. Rao. He recalled how youth who fought for separate Statehood in anticipation of jobs were denied employment opportunities during the 10-year tenure of the BRS. The Congress had however taken steps to fill 57,000 vacancies and process was on for filling 30,000 more vacancies in the coming days.
This was in addition to the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme that was aimed at providing self employment opportunities to left over eligible youth with an estimated ₹9,000 crore. 'Why is Mr. Rao worried? Is it because the Congress government has been promptly giving minimum support price to farmers or because of the payment of ₹500 bonus to fine rice as assured?' he asked.
He said the ₹1 lakh loan waiver implemented by the BRS government in four instalments could not mitigate the farmers' woes as the amounts were settled towards interest. The Congress government on its part had however successfully waived crop loans of ₹22,000 crore in one go. This was in addition to providing investment support of ₹12,000 a year to landless farmers engaged in tilling lands. The Congress government had also come up with the historic Nallamala Declaration a couple of days ago envisaging off grid power connectivity to tribal farmers with an estimated ₹12,600 crore. 'Did the BRS president ever consider schemes for financial empowerment of tribals?' he questioned adding the government had enhanced the diet and cosmetic charges for hostel boarders in spite of the financial constraints facing the State.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Thrissur celebrates veteran Congress leader Therambil Ramakrishnan's Sathabhishekam with warm tributes
In a vibrant celebration, Thrissur came together to honour one of its most respected public figures, senior Congress leader and former Assembly Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan, on his Sathabhishekam (a celebration marking completion of witnessing thousand full moons) on Friday. The birthday celebration held at Kausthubham Auditorium drew people from all walks of life, symbolising the deep admiration and emotional bond the public shares with the veteran Congress leader. By 10:45 a.m., Mr. Ramakrishnan arrived with his family, greeted by Congress leaders, supporters, and cultural personalities. Accompanied by his wife Chandra, he lit the traditional lamp, formally marking the beginning of the celebrations. A feast followed, setting the tone for a day filled with affection and reverence. Even elderly people, despite physical challenges, made it a point to attend — a testimony to the emotional legacy Mr. Ramakrishnan has left in the lives of so many. Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi greeted the senior leader with an embrace, acknowledging the decades of dedicated service Mr. Ramakrishnan gave to the constituency. In a rare moment of political transcendence, Minister of Higher Education R. Bindu paid her respects by touching Mr. Ramakrishnan's feet — symbolic not just of personal reverence but also of a shared past, as Mr. Ramakrishnan had been a classmate of her mother during their pre-degree days. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general Secretary K.C. Venugopal; KPCC President Sunny Joseph; former President K. Sudhakaran; Opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan; senior congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and A.K. Antony greeted him over the phone. The guest list was a who's who of Kerala's political, cultural, legal, and journalistic spheres. Dignitaries included Ministers K. Rajan, Auxiliary Bishop Mar Tony Neelankavil, spiritual leader Swami Gabheerananda, football icon I.M. Vijayan, DCC President Joseph Tajett, UDF District Chairman T.V. Chandramohan, MLAs Saneesh Kumar Joseph, P. Balachandran, CPM District Secretary K.V. Abdul Khader, CPI's K.K. Valsaraj, former MPs T.N. Prathapan and Ramya Haridas.


New Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's political secretary removed amid stampede during RCB victory celebrations
BENGALURU: A day after the State Government suspended five senior police officers, including the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, the Chief Minister's Political Secretary has been removed from the post with immediate effect. A notification by the Undersecretary (Protocol), Department of Personnel and Administrative Reform (DPAR) said K Govindaraj, Political Secretary to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been removed from the post with immediate effect. Congress MLC Govindaraj was appointed as the Political Secretary to the CM on June 1, 2023. The State government is facing flak after a stampede during the RCB's IPL-2025 victory celebrations at Chinnaswamy stadium that claimed 11 lives. Earlier in the day, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy had accused Govindaraj of putting pressure on the CM to hold RCB victory celebrations. The opposition BJP and JDS leaders are demanding the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara. On Thursday, the government suspended five senior officers including Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayanand. Accusing the government of making police officers scapegoats, BJP and JDS leaders said the investigation by CID, magisterial probe, and inquiry by a retired High Court judge would not reveal the truth and justice would not be served to the victims' families. The Congress party high command has to remove Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, said Kumaraswamy.


Indian Express
42 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Congress contacted me about demand for special Parliament session, told them not the right time: Supriya Sule
Having broken ranks with the opposition on their demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss the developments following the Pahalgam terror attack, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule on Friday said the Congress had contacted her when she was abroad heading the all-party delegation and she told them to wait as it was 'not the right time to ask the government hard questions'. 'It was time for the country to show a united face,' she said. 'While I was abroad as a part of the delegation, the Congress contacted me. I said I cannot join them as I am away and told them to wait till all the delegations return. I told them, let's have a meeting and decide after I return, but it happened before I returned. That is why I could not sign the letter to the Prime Minister,' Sule told The Indian Express. Earlier this week, 16 Opposition parties led by the Congress wrote to Modi demanding a special session, saying 'there are serious questions facing the nation about the terror attack, killing of civilians in Poonch, Uri and Rajouri, the ceasefire announcements, and the implications on our national security and foreign policy'. 'We have supported the government's efforts to engage with the international community on India's position. The government has briefed foreign nations and the media, but not Parliament – keeping the people of India and their elected representatives in the dark,' the Opposition parties said. The NCP (SP) was not a signatory to the letter. Asked whether that was the reason for her party not signing the letter, Sule said, 'That's exactly because… you have to understand the factual situation. I was out. (Sharad) Pawar sahab had already made the statement that till the entire operation is over that the NCP will stand by the government. We will not say a word against the government. This is not the time to do petty politics. This is an issue of India's larger interest. So country comes first, then the state, then the party and then family.' Sule said the country comes first and India must send a message to the world that we are united against any terror attack. 'Pawar sahab had made it very clear. We were expecting that when the July session comes, hopefully everything will be settled by then, then we can definitely debate it. Because in a vibrant democracy, every issue must be debated, but there has to be a right time for it.' Saying that Pawar had made it clear that Operation Sindoor was ongoing and no special session was required till it finishes, Sule said her party was with the government on sensitive issues. 'Once the operation is over, we will ask the government hard questions, but not now. This is not the moment, especially when we were all out of India. We were telling the world more information, giving the facts to the world. Then we cannot ask questions. See, it's country first, then the state, then the party and then your family,' she said. Sule and the members of her delegation — they travelled to Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia and South Africa — met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday and provided him with feedback about their interactions. 'It's a lot of learning and we have come with a lot of feedback for the government. The countries which we visited were very, very supportive, and stand united and very strongly with the government of India or any terror attack anywhere in the world,' she said. Sule said her party would 'definitely ask' the government questions during the Monsoon session. 'Of course, I think India will ask questions, not just the NCP (SP). India will ask questions. India wants to know a lot of answers. It is not just about the NCP (SP), India wants to know.'