“This is a completely hopeless and directionless budget. The TRS Government has once again tricked the people using jugglery of words. More than Rs 1 lakh crore budget sounds impressive, but these figures are completely unrealistic,” said Deputy CLP leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir while speaking on Telangana’s Budget in the State Legislative Council on Tuesday.
Backed by famous quotes and a few couplets of Urdu poetry, Shabbir Ali attacked the TRS Government’s claims related to budget spending. His speech was marred by repeated interruptions and objections by the Treasure Benches. Stating that the government began its journey in an agitation mode, he cited bandh calls given by TRS on May 29, four days before taking charge, and on July 12 over the Polavaram issue. He alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao neither took an all-party delegation to New Delhi nor he himself made representation with the Centre. He also questioned the Chief Minister over the drive to demolish illegal buildings. “Why did the demolition drive was launched and why was it stopped?” he asked.
Shabbir Ali also listed out the instances wherein TRS Government was rapped by different courts on matters including Transport Tax, EAMCET Counselling, Number Plates, FAST, de-recognition of 174 engineering colleges and agricultural market committees. “The judgment or remarks by the courts clearly suggest that the TRS Government is not adopting a proper approach to address matters of high importance,” he said.
Speaking on “Telangana Amaraveerulu Pathakam”, Shabbir Ali criticised the government for recognising only 459 martyrs of Telangana to provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each of their families. At time point, Council Chairman Swamy Goud intervened and said that the government had assured that the number of 459 martyrs was not final and the other cases too were under verification. When Shabbir Ali pointed out the suicide attempt by a woman, Bharati, the widow of Pradeep, who sacrificed his life for Telangana cause, over non-inclusion of her husband’s name in martyrs list, Transport Minister Mahender Reddy intervened and said that the government would provide her Rs 10 lakh assistance.
Shabbir Ali demanded that all martyrs, including those who sacrificed their lives in 1969 agitation, should be extended financial assistance and other benefits, as promised by the government.
The Congress MLC accused the TRS Government of cheating the farmers on the promise crop loan waiver up to Rs 1 lakh. The government has delayed in making the payment of first instalment of Rs 4,250 crore which resulted in many farmers losing crop insurance. Blaming the State Government for farmers’ suicides, he said that those suicides were not even acknowledged by the government. Referring to GO Ms 421 issued by the Congress Government on June 1, 2004, he said that the previous Congress regime had extended financial assistance up to Rs 2 lakh to the families of farmers who committed suicide.
Intervening on the issue Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna admitted that several farmers have committed suicide and he himself visited their families in Adilablad district. He assured that the government would provide them financial assistance. Thanking the minister for the same, he demanded that the compensation amount should be increased to Rs 5 lakh each.
Being the former energy minister, Shabbir Ali accused the TRS Government of mishandling the energy crisis. He also ridiculed KCR’s pre-elections claims of getting power from Chattisgarh by erecting just four poles. He said that recently signed MoU for 1,000 MW would not materialise before three years. “At one side, the TRS Government is aiming to generate 20,000 MW in the next three years. On the other, it has earmarked meager funds to achieve the goal. The Government has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore as an investment in TSGENCO for the financial year 2014-15. While Rs 200 crore have been provisioned for Solar Pump Sets, Rs 40 Crore are earmarked for Roof Top Solar Power. Rs 3,241.90 Crore have been provided under Non-Plan, which includes Rs 3,000 power subsidy. These figures clearly show the non-seriousness of the TRS Government in augmenting power generation on war footing or priority basis,” he said.
The Congress MLC welcomed the enhancement in the Minorities Welfare budget to Rs 1,030 Crore, which includes Central funds of Rs 105 crore. However, he alleged that the government does not look serious in releasing these funds.
In the last five months, the State Govt has released only Rs 112.35 Crore. Citing examples, he said of Rs 400 crore for Financial Assistance to Students of Telangana (FAST) only Rs 60 Cr have been released. Similarly, Rs 15.42 Cr (out of 95 Cr) for bank-linked income generated schemes; Rs 7.2 Cr (out of Rs 53 Cr) for Telangana Wakf Board while no amount has been released for construction of buildings for hostels and residential schools (Rs 51.65 Cr) and Minority Girls Residential Schools (Rs 20 Cr). “Will the government release remaining Rs 812.56 Crore in the next seven months?” he asked.
Shabbir Ali also questioned the seriousness of government in providing 12% Muslim reservation. He also pointed out loopholes in the Shaadi Mubarak scheme. Similarly, there is no mention of providing 12% reservation to Scheduled Tribes. He also criticised the government for providing meager amounts for the SC, ST and BC Welfare. He said only Rs 25 crore have been allocated for KG to PG free education scheme.
“The first budget of new State does not match with the expectations of people and therefore, the Congress party rejects it,” he said. (INN)