BRS neglecting housing for poor, says Kishan Reddy; stages dharna on ORR

Hyderabad: High drama prevailed in the city on Thursday as Union minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy along with other party leaders sat on Outer Ring Road after being stopped by the police. They were on their way to audit the site of the BRS government’s housing scheme for the poor at Batasingaram.

"This is not even a protest. When I wanted to visit (the site), I don't know why hundreds of policemen were deployed outside our office," he said.

“Am I a criminal? Am I a terrorist? I have the right to go anywhere in India,” Kishan Reddy told the commissioner of Rachakonda Police DS Chauhan who tried to persuade the Union minister and other leaders to vacate the place. Kishan Reddy was later physically lifted by police and taken away from the place.

“The KCR government arresting me will not stop BJP from fighting against the Razakar rule of the BRS government. Our fight will last until every homeless gets a house in Telangana. Our fight will continue for the people’s issues,” Kishan Reddy tweeted.

Referring to Narendra Modi’s government, which had sanctioned three crore houses for the poor across the country, Kishan Reddy stated that the Centre is prepared to sanction more, if required, for Telangana. He alleged that the state government was neglecting the construction of houses for the poor.

War has begun against BRS govt

Speaking to reporters, Kishan Reddy lambasted the BRS government for allegedly failing to deliver on its promise of constructing two-bedroom houses for poor even after being in power for nine long years. BJP had planned to launch an agitation on the issue at a later date after he formally took over as state BJP president but wanted to see the construction site at Batasingaram on Thursday as the construction remained incomplete, he said.

When he got down from the vehicle, he was taken into custody without giving any reason. Why should the restrictions be imposed on him and party leaders as if he is going to a sensitive area, Kishan Reddy asked.

He stated that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao should answer the people's demand for double bedroom houses in the state. Saying that the Chief Minister's family is "afraid of its own shadow", he alleged that police action has been taken against the BJP leaders as the former is feeling insecure.

"The people's anguish will not subside with our arrests. The war has begun today. They started war on their behalf. We are ready for war. BJP will definitely fight a peaceful and democratic war with BRS, Kalvakuntla family (CM's family) as per the rights given by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and with the support of Telangana people," he said.

"We will fight for the poor. We will fight for double bedroom houses. We will fight for the unemployed, for jobs, for unemployment dole... War has begun KCRji," he stated.

Asked about Animal Husbandry Minister T Srinivas Yadav's comments that the Centre has not given adequate funds for housing, Reddy said it is his responsibility to get Central share and funds if the Telangana government built 50 lakh houses for poor in the state.

Earlier the day, the chairman of the Election Management Committee for Telangana BJP and MLC Etela Rajender and other senior leaders were put on house arrest. The leaders sat on the road protesting against the Telangana government and chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

2BHK houses by August

A day earlier, Telangana minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) KT Rama Rao announced that the state government would come up with a programme to provide eligible beneficiaries with double-bedroom houses within Hyderabad limits from the first week of August.

The state government has aimed to construct 1 lakh double-room houses under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits.

Over 70,000 double-bedroom houses, which had already been completed, would be provided to the poor in six phases, while construction works in some areas are in the final stage. The GHMC has prepared a schedule for the distribution of already completed double-bedroom houses to beneficiaries, following the minister’s directions.

Inputs from PTI