KCR livid over criticism on offerings to Gods

Mahabubabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday tore into the Opposition criticism over his offering of gold ornaments to Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala as part of the fulfilment of a vow he had made during the fight for separate Telangana. He also made a blistering attack on the Congress leadership in the State for its deliberate moves to scuttle the progress on the key projects taken up by the government.

The Chief Minister offered ‘Bangaru Korameesalu’ (golden moustache) to Lord Veerabhadra Swamy, presiding deity of the Kuravi temple, in the district. Later, speaking to mediapersons at MLA Redya Naik’s house at Uggampally near Kuravi, the Chief Minister said those who chose to criticise him on the offerings made to the gods should think twice before venturing to do so.

“Is it proper to talk whatever one wishes on such matters? It is unbecoming of leaders such as Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy to find fault with the Yagam performed for the well-being of the people of the State,” he said.

Targets Congress

Coming down heavily on the Congress, he said that the party was deliberate in choosing the development projects taken up by the government as targets. The party was making every effort to hinder the progress on key irrigation projects. The legal hurdles in the implementation of irrigation projects were the making of the Congress, he said.

“The Opposition leaders are attempting to obstruct the construction of the projects by moving the courts and the Green Tribunal,” he said adding that the Opposition would be given a befitting lesson in the Assembly with all the evidence.

Stating that the Congress leaders had acted like slaves of the Andhra Chief Ministers in the undivided State, he alleged that some of them had turned into ‘gang of thieves’ with the sole agenda of stalling projects. They do not have any culture and all that they can boast of is their ‘liquor culture’.

Rs 5 cr for Kuravi temple

The crowds that accorded a rousing welcome



to KCR at Kuravi cheered him as he announced Rs 5 crore for the development of Kuravi Veerabhadra Swamy temple and Rs 1 crore each for the development of Dornakal and Marripeda mandals. He wanted due focus on development of these remote areas.

He also said that 77 gram panchayats (GPs) under Dornakal Assembly constituency would be sanctioned Rs 25 lakh each for taking up development activities.

On other activities taken up in the erstwhile Warangal district, the Chief Minister said that the foundation for the establishment of mega textile park would be laid soon in Warangal rural district and added that the land acquisition for the park was completed. The CM also said that the government was taking steps to ensure that the erstwhile Warangal district would soon compete with East and West Godavari districts on the farm front as the district would get 40 tmcft water through the Mid-Manair and Lower Manair dams after they are linked with the proposed Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.

Abundant water

“The erstwhile Warangal district will soon get water for at least two crops, if not three after the Kaleshwaram project is linked with Mid-Manair. Moreover, we are also connecting Devadula lift project to the proposed Malkapur reservoir,” the CM said.

He said welfare programmes worth Rs 36,000 crore had been taken up in the State and added that they were moving towards strengthening the rural economy.

Stating that Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 crore would be allocated for BCs in the budget, the CM said that a finance corporation with Rs 1,000 crore would be set up for the benefit of MBCs. He also said that they would take steps to see that the people from Nayi Brahmin (barbers) community would lead a life of self-respect. Some 25,000 to 30,000 hygienic saloons would be set up for the benefit of Nayi Brahmins, besides modern laundries for the benefit of Rajakas (washermen community). The CM also said that sheep worth Rs 4,000 crore would be distributed among the Yadava community.