By not attending local programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), continues to insult the federalism system. This also amounts to insulting the Constitution. KCR’s utter disregard for the federal protocol is despite the fact that PM Modi is constantly giving the gift of development to the people of Telangana.
With his absence from the programme of PM Modi, KCR shows arrogance. He is also trying to become a barrier in PM Modi meeting the people of Telangana and spending time with them. The discomfort of KCR is because of his family-oriented politics, reeking of corruption, which has unleashed political arrogance, loot, and insult of Dalits and women.
Thus, KCR cannot see Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his eyes. PM Modi’s state visits rattle KCR, as he goes missing whenever the prime minister comes to the state.
It’s a serious lapse on the part of KCR that he slips away whenever PM Modi visits Telangana. His utter disrespect to protocol, as laid out by the Constitution, is a sign of deep nervousness. PM Modi is welcomed by people all across the country with open hearts. The joy among the people of Telangana whenever PM Modi visits the state, can be seen on the street.
PM Modi has earned the love of the people, cutting across caste, class, creed and religion based on his hard work for the wellbeing of the citizens. But the Telangana chief minister has reasons to panic at the sight of PM Modi, which explains why he never fails to skip official protocols during the prime minister’s visit.
KCR has overseen one of the most corrupt regimes in any of the states in the country. The paper leaks of examinations in Telangana are the new normal. The papers of the public service commission also get leaked. Such leaked papers make rounds on the Whatsapp of the people summarily.
The Bharatiya Janata party State chief Bandi Sanjay had also received one such leaked paper on his WhatsApp, as had been the case with several other politicians. The people in the state have legitimate concerns that mafias run Telangana, where corruption is the only means to move forward in all walks of life. Bandi Sanjay, a committed soldier of the BJP, who is devoted to the wellbeing of the people, has been agitating in Telangana against the rampant corruption of KCR and his Government.
But the KCR government sought to silence him by arresting him under a dubious charge. The court promptly freed Bandi Sanjay because the case had no merit. It has become a norm in Telangana where the State police would summarily arrest leaders of the BJP. The State Government has also faced flak from the Parliamentary privilege committee for one such reckless action against an MP.
It’s indeed disturbing that KCR has murdered democracy even while the people had elected him through democratic means. It may be stated that KCR muzzled democracy to give cover to his clan positioned in all the spheres of the State Government. The clan members supervise the loot of the state’s resources while denying the people’s legitimate aspirations, particularly the poor and the weaker sections of society.
The hallmark of a corrupt regime has also been seen in Indian politics with the emergence of family members in the ruling parties in some places. Telangana is one example where KCR brought his entire clan to lord over his party and the State Government.
The liquor mafia runs the show in Telangana. The State Government has been found wanting to act against the liquor mafia. This is now unravelling, as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is going to the depth of the nexus of the politicians with the liquor mafia. The KCR family members have indulged in enacting political drama after they became certain that the ED would take the case to a logical conclusion. This has set in palpable nervousness in the ranks of the ruling party in Telangana.
KCR has also pressed the panic button after becoming convinced that the popularity of PM Modi is only rising in Telangana. This is because PM Modi, in the last nine years, has worked for the wellbeing of the small and marginal farmers by protecting their honour with PM Kissan Nidhi Scheme and weeding out middlemen in the procurement of foodgrains and distribution of urea.
KCR thus is in panic in the face of the increasing unpopularity of his government. He is now resorting to undemocratic and repressive measures to stifle the voice of the BJP. But he is harbouring misplaced notions. The country’s people have always thrown such people who have shown anti-democratic mindsets. KCR may have forgotten, but even the most repressive regimes have been thrown out by the people for failing to respect democratic norms.
The BJP would be unwavering in its struggle for the legitimate rights of the people in Telangana. The people in Telangana are fed up with the KCR and his family rule. The BJP leadership is committed to protecting the interests of the people of Telangana, and democracy will be fully restored in the State soon.
(Author is the national general secretary of the BJP)
