Modi wants strong centre, weak states; polarizes nation to divert attention: KCR at TRS plenary

Hyderabad: Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday said Narendra Modi is resorting to polarisation to hide his failures and divert public attention from real issues.

Giving a new twist to his often ­repeated call for emergence of an anti­-BJP and anti­-Congress alliance, the TRS president advocated an alternative political agenda for the country in which his party will play a role

Making the concluding remarks at the day-long plenary of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), he warned Prime Minister against playing games to gain political mileage by spreading hate among people.

Amid cheers by 3,000 delegates, KCR said he would work as a soldier to set a new agenda for the nation

TRS leader dared Modi to show one sector where some progress was made during the last eight years of his rule.

"Nothing has happened. The GDP has crashed, the economy is not doing well, inflation has gone up, and the prices are rising. There are only failures but to show that something is happening, there are speeches and lies," he said.

He said the people were being polarised to divert attention from real issues and the hate was being spread to take political mileage.

KCR slammed Modi for asking states to slash taxes on fuel when it is his government. "One should at least have some shame. How can you ask states to reduce it?. Is this how a Prime Minister should speak," he asked.

He said after the formation of Telangana, the state government has not increased the taxes on fuel except by rounding off the price once. "If you love people, why did you increase the cess on fuel. With what face are you asking states to cut taxes," he asked and alleged that Modi wants a "strong Centre and weak states".

The TRS chief said an alternative people's agenda will be unveiled after taking consultations with economists, intellectuals, and retired All India Service officers.

Responding to appeals by TRS leaders to play an active role in national politics to bring a change in the country, he said that in the coming days, an appropriate decision will be taken on what should be the role of the TRS.

KCR said a detailed analysis will be done of the national politics, the working of the system, the resources the country has, and how the country should march ahead.

"All the aspects will be analyzed and discussed for 15-20 days by economic experts from the country and abroad. I will also invite intellectuals. Some will be coming from Harvard University," he said.

The TRS leader said a meeting of 200 retired All India Service officers will be held in Hyderabad to help identify the key issues that need to be addressed.

KCR told the delegates that before taking up any task, he wants to do a detailed analysis and come out with a plan after going into all the aspects. Reiterating that India needs to come out of the routine political system, he said there is a need for bringing structural changes and framing the right policies to ensure that the country progresses to its full potential.

"The country has water but farmers don't get water. It has electricity but rulers are unable to supply it to people. Basic needs like drinking water, electricity, education, and health are not being taken care of which shows there are big loopholes in our thinking, policy-making, and implementation," he said.

KCR listed out the tremendous progress Telangana has made in all sectors. "We can dream and we can also make those dreams come true. Telangana has proved it," he said.

Stating that India has all the natural and human resources, KCR said if the country works hard with determination it can emerge as a bigger economic power than the US.

He also hinted that the TRS, with assets of Rs 1,000 crore, has no dearth of financial resources to play its role in national politics and claimed that some people have already come forward to make donations.

"We have 60 lakh disciplined workers who can contribute anything from Rs 10 to Rs 1 crore. If I give a call that we are going to influence national politics, they all will come forward. If everyone gives Rs 1,000, we can have Rs 600 crore," he said.

KCR exuded confidence that the TRS will win the Assembly elections for a third consecutive term. "We will win again with a huge majority. No one should be in doubt. At the same time, we should not be arrogant. To analyze some technical issues, we hired consultancies. Their surveys also show we will win 90-odd seats (in 119 member Assembly)," he said in an obvious reference to the deal signed by the party with the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) founded by election strategist Prashant Kishor.

KCR again cautioned people that communal disharmony will have disastrous consequences for the country. He warned them against falling into the trap of those spreading hate. "It takes a lot of time for construction but destruction can happen quickly."

He slammed the outfits which say Hindus are in danger. "The President is Hindu, the Prime Minister is Hindu, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is a Hindu. Almost all the Chief Ministers are Hindus. How can Hindus be in danger," he asked.

Later 13 resolutions were passed during the plenary

TRS Resolution -1

TRS party extended gratitude to the Telangana government for procuring Paddy in the current season. The union Government turned down the state plea to purchase paddy directly from farmers. The party criticized the Union Government for its failure in resolving the paddy procurement issue amicably. The center adopted anti-farmer policies which include reducing subsidies on fertilizers and putting a heavy burden on farmers. The increase in petrol and diesel prices also mounted the input cost of the farming. The party resolved it will not compromise on farmers' issues. The TRS plenary hailed the Chief Minister's decision to buy all paddy.

TRS plenary Resolution -2

The ruling TRS has adopted a resolution that the party will play a key role in national politics in the coming days. The party observed TRS needs to play a constructive role and fill the political void at the national level. The party asserted to bring a quality change in the country on the lines the Telangana state achieved desirable results in education, irrigation, health, and economic sectors. The country should be freed from the evil forces and end the Bulldozer rule and divide and rule policies adopted by the rulers in the country. The party felt that the Atma Nirbhar Bharat program launched by the BJP-led Union Government did not bring any change in the lives of people. Instead, the government has turned India into "Durbhar ( Worse) Bharat".

TRS Plenary Resolution -3

The TRS has demanded the Union Government reduce spiraling prices of essential commodities and took strong exception to the center's indifference towards solving the price hike issue. The false economic policies adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi put a heavy burden on the common man..middle classes are struggling hard due to the price burden. Despite the crude oil prices have gone down, the center was increasing fuel prices indiscriminately. Eyeing for political benefits, the union Government reduced fuel prices for some time. The party resolved to expose the center's failure the control prices.

TRS Plenary Resolution -4

The TRS party asserted 33 percent of women reservation in the legislative bodies. The party has demanded the Union Government adopt a bill extending 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament. The TRS already adopted a resolution in support of women's reservation in the legislative bodies in the state assembly and sent it to the center for consideration. The TS Government is already implementing 50 percent reservation in local bodies for women. TRS criticized the BJP-led Union Government for not being sincere in women's empowerment.

TRS plenary -Resolution 5

The party has resolved to fight against religious intolerance and protect the national integrity and the country's unique culture. The TRS plenary observed growing religious intolerance will weaken the country on all fronts. Many countries were struggling after the fanatic groups took over the administrative power. The TRS called on people to fight unitedly against the barbaric acts by some political forces and spread the message of love and peace.

TRS plenary - Resolution 6

The ruling party demanded the Union Government constitute the BC welfare ministry and also take up the BC census in the country.It was unfortunate that the successive governments did not create a ministry for BCs who constituted more than 50 percent population of the country. All the pending issues and problems being faced by BCs would have been addressed if a separate ministry for BCs is constituted in the country. The Telangana state has conducted a "Samagra Kutumba survey" and the data was being used to reach the benefit of the welfare programs to the deserved. The TRS leadership said that the plights of BCs will not be resolved unless the BC census is conducted.

TRS plenary Resolution -7

The ruling TRS of Telangana state has demanded the Union Government enhance the quota to the deserved communities in education and employment based on their social conditions. The TRS was demanding to increase the quota for Muslims to 12 percent from 4 percent in proportionate to the population. The ST reservation should also be increased to 10 percent. The government has adopted resolutions in support of quota hikes and sent the same to the center for approval in April 2017. The Union Government was not responding to the issues for years.

TRS plenary Resolution -8

The Telangana Rastra Samithi has demanded the Union Government collect the taxes from the divisive pool and stop the practice of tax collection through Cess which dented state share from the tax revenue. The TRS alleged that BJP-led Union Government has adopted a " weaker states - strong Centre " approach to weaken the state financially. The center should pay 41 percent devolution to the states. But the union Government is collecting taxes in the form of Cess so that the states will not insist. States were meted out injustice in the devolution. The states could get only 29.6 percent devolution due to the cess system in the tax collection. The TRS strongly condemned the anti-constitutional approach to the tax collection and devolution to the states.

TRS plenary Resolution -9

The TRS has demanded the Union Government resolve the Telangana share in river Krishna water under section 3 of the river water dispute act and also instruct the Brijesh Kumar tribunal to resolve the issue. The ruling party alleged that center was deliberately adopting delaying tactics in resolving water disputes after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The centre was also creating hurdles in the completion of projects on Krishna. At the request of the Union Government, the Telangana government withdrew the petition to the supreme court to resolve the water sharing issue. But there is no progress. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao apprised the Union Jal Shakti minister of the challenges faced by Telangana.

TRS plenary Resolution -10

The ruling TRS party resolved to fight against the Union Government for undermining the federal spirit and suppressing constitutional rights which have been accorded to the states.The constitution has given absolute powers to the states to bring legislation and also Executive powers. Practically, the center was depriving states of its powers. The TRS demanded the center scrap new power acts and Dam safety acts which are detrimental to the states. The one nation - one registration and one nation- one market policies are part of consolidating the powers of the center and weakening the states.

TRS Plenary Resolution-11

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao led TRS party demanded the Union Government sanction Navodaya schools and medical Colleges in Telangana. The party took serious note of the injustice meted out to Telangana in the sanction of educational institutions and other development schemes. The TRS leadership warned that the party will launch a struggle if the demands are not met soon.

TRS plenary Resolution -12

The Telangana ruling party is demanding the union Government toImplement the Dalit Bandhu scheme, launched by Telangana Government, in the country. Under the scheme, each beneficiary from the SC community is provided Rs 10 lakh financial assistance with a 100 percent subsidy. The centre did not introduce any scheme for Dalits exclusively, the party leadership said the attacks on Dalits increased in the country.

TRS plenary Resolution -13

The TRS has demanded the Union Government withdraw GST on handlooms and opposed the anti-weavers policies adopted by the centre. The centre imposed 5 percent GST on handloom products. As a result, the weaver's community is struggling to continue in the occupation. The Telangana government has brought into force a slew of welfare schemes like waivers of loans, weavers saving schemes, and group for shed programs to strengthen the community economically. The resolution demanded the centre save weavers from the GST burden.