Hyderabad: Nagarkurnool MP Mallu Ravi said the BJP had no connection with the Telangana armed struggle and credited the Congress, CPI and CPM with waging the movement. He said people across party lines had fought because they wanted Telangana to attain independence.
Ravi said an armed struggle had taken place against the Razakars in Telangana. He said many people participated in the movement and lost their lives.
He also recalled the impact of the struggle on students. Ravi said many students had lost an academic year because of the movement. He said he too had lost an academic year during the armed struggle.
Ravi said Jawaharlal Nehru had recognised the Telangana armed struggle and appointed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as Home Minister. He also said the Congress and Sonia Gandhi had given statehood to Telangana.
Ravi then criticised the Modi government over UPI payments and demanded the immediate withdrawal of what he described as a newly imposed UPI tax. “This is not a UPI tax. This is a Modi tax,” he said.
He said the government had encouraged people to adopt digital transactions. Therefore, he criticised it for what he described as imposing a tax after people had become accustomed to digital payments.
Ravi also claimed that people were afraid of the Modi government’s administration.
Telangana armed struggle remarks turn to KCR
Ravi also targeted former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao over a commitment concerning the formation of Telangana. He said KCR had stated in Delhi that he would merge the TRS with the Congress if a separate State was granted.
However, Ravi alleged that KCR had betrayed that commitment after returning to Hyderabad.
Ravi accused KCR of running a feudal and monarchical style of administration in Telangana for 10 years. He also described the BRS as a party opposed to Scheduled Castes.
Ravi said KCR had constructed Pragathi Bhavan and the Secretariat during what he described as monarchical rule. He argued that this was not what people had sought from the government.
He said people had given political power to governments to work for their welfare.
Referring to an inquiry into KCR’s farmhouse, Ravi said the Chief Minister had ordered the probe. He questioned why those who were afraid of scrutiny would disclose their complete details. Ravi said the purpose of the inquiry was to establish the actual extent of the property.