Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has proposed a significant meeting with the Chief Ministers of Southern Indian states to address the alleged bias in the recent Union Budget. Reddy accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of prioritizing political interests over the welfare of Telangana’s citizens, despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing eight Member of Parliament (MP) seats from the state.
Discrimination in Union Budget Allocation
Reddy demanded the resignation of Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy, highlighting what he called an injustice towards Telangana in the Union Budget. He claimed that PM Modi’s actions favored political gains rather than fulfilling promises made to the people of Telangana. The Union Budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, failed to mention Telangana, which sparked outrage among state leaders.
Criticism from Congress and BRS Leaders
Both Congress ministers and leaders from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) criticized the Union Budget for allegedly discriminating against Telangana. They pointed out that the budget overlooked commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, favoring Andhra Pradesh while neglecting Telangana.
“The AP Reorganisation Act is for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The budget did not even mention Telangana, despite the state contributing eight MPs to the BJP,” said Reddy. He urged BJP MPs from Telangana to join Congress MPs in protesting against this perceived injustice.
Southern States’ Resources Exploited for Political Gain
Reddy further alleged that PM Modi exploits Southern states for political votes and resources. He proposed a coalition of Southern states to discuss critical issues such as delimitation, which looms over them like the sword of Damocles. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have already been approached, while Kerala and Pondicherry are yet to respond to the invitation.
BRS President’s Outcry Against Budget Neglect
BRS working president KT Rama Rao also criticized the Union Budget, stating that Telangana received no benefits once again. He recalled that BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao had previously requested the central government to address nearly 35 promises made under the AP Reorganization Act, but these requests have been ignored.
“Despite Telangana MPs’ efforts during their visits to Delhi, their requests have been continuously overlooked,” said Rama Rao. He urged the people of Telangana to reflect on their decision to elect national party representatives like the BJP and Congress, who, according to him, have failed to advocate for the state in Parliament.
Future Political Repercussions
Rama Rao emphasized that Telangana would hold the BJP accountable for neglecting the state despite its eight MPs. “Telangana will certainly teach a lesson to the BJP government for giving zero funds,” he asserted.
Call to Action for Southern Unity
The proposed meeting of Southern CMs aims to foster unity and address common concerns about budget allocation and political representation. By joining forces, these states hope to combat perceived biases and ensure fair treatment from the central government.
Conclusion
The call for a Southern states’ meeting underscores a growing discontent with the central government’s approach to budget allocation and political representation. The leaders of Telangana, along with their counterparts in other Southern states, seek to address these issues collaboratively, striving for a more balanced and equitable distribution of resources and political attention.