Kodad: The farmers of Telangana were discriminated lot under the Congress regime. Those in Kodad and under the Nagarjunsagar ayacut were deprived of irrigation water, said Chief Minister KCR. When hundreds and thousands of farmers approached the BRS, a massive protest was staged and got water from the project. Those drawing water on the Andhra side were given free power but those in the Telangana region were forced to pay power bills.
Addressing an impressive public meeting at Kodad as part of the ongoing assembly election campaign, Mr KCR said the Nagarjunasagar was originally conceived as Nandikonda project and was supposed to be built 20 km away from the present spot. However, the Andhra rulers and Congress leaders conspired against the farmers of Telangana region and went ahead with their plans. No Congress leader ever questioned these and also the merger of Telangana with Andhra.
The problems faced by Telangana people are endless. It was only after BRS came to power in the separate state of Telangana, that Godavari water was supplied to Kodad through the Kaleshwaram project. They will be supplied to Udayasamudram to ensure two crops per year in Kodad and surrounding areas. Mr KCR said a lot more needs to be done on the irrigation front to benefit the erstwhile Nalgonda district. “At a time minister Jagadish Reddy and me are engaged in planning and executing these works, the Congress leaders say Rythu Bandhu is waste, Dharani is waste, free power is waste and so on,” he pointed out.
Mr KCR asked the crowds if they wanted the Rythu Bandhu, free 24-hour power supply and Dharani to be in place. They all said yes in unison. He repeatedly appealed to people to not to believe in Congress. If they by accident voted them, the Telangana state will go backwards. Presently, people are happy with the progress on the development and welfare front. They should preserve the government and help it do more.
Many people came and complained against the party candidate Bollam Mallaiah Yadav, the sitting MLA. However, the party was not ready to listen to them as BCs never got a chance in Kodad. “If the BCs who are claiming to be over 50 per cent should now come out and vote for Mallaiah Yadav in a big way. It is my challenge to all the SC, ST, BC and minorities now,” Mr KCR said.
The chief minister promised to revise all the welfare schemes and enhance the benefits under each of them as the state progresses. Pensions will be Rs. 5,000 and Rythu Bandhu Rs. 15,000 per acre and so on. He appealed to the youth to reach out to every voter and ensure that they come to the polling booth and give their vote. Energy minister G Jagadish Reddy and others were present.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao