Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said once his party forms the government in Telangana, it would question K Chandrashekar Rao about the public money he “looted” during his ten-year tenure as Chief Minister of the state.
Addressing a packed public rally in Nagarkurnool, he said the matter “would not end” with the removal of KCR, and promised that he would go beyond; “the Congress government will hold him answerable for the loot of the public money,” he said. He added that the Congress government would ensure people would receive every penny that KCR and his family looted from them during all these years.
Alleging that there was an “understanding” between the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Gandhi pointed out that all the Opposition leaders were facing ED and CBI cases. “I, myself am facing several cases,” he added. He said his Lok Sabha membership had been cancelled and his official residence was confiscated but there had been no action against KCR.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making false promises, the Congress leader remarked, “I am not Narendra Modi…the promise I make, I fulfil it”. He went on to say PM Modi had “falsely” promised to deposit Rs.15 lakhs in each citizen’s bank account ten years ago.
Gandhi then announced several guarantees for the people of Telangana. “Women will get Rs 2,500 every month directly in their bank accounts. Besides, a gas cylinder will be provided for Rs 500 only. Women will also get free bus travel facilities in Telangana.”
For farmers, the former Congress president announced Rs 15,000 compensation per acre every year and Rs 12,000 every year for agriculture labourers. For the elderly, he said, the monthly old age pension would be doubled from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 per month. He also announced health insurance covers worth ten lakhs and 200 units of free electricity.
Expressing confidence that the Congress would win Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Gandhi said, “This will be followed by Congress’ victory in the General Elections in 2024.” Referring to the BJP’s announcement that they would appoint an OBC candidate as Telangana’s Chief Minister, he said: “The BJP will get 2% of votes as all four tyres of its vehicle have been punctured.”