TRS is only interested in power, says Rahul

Mahabubnagar (Andhra Pradesh), April 21 (IANS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Monday said that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is interested only in power and urged people to vote for his party to ensure development and prosperity in Telangana.

Addressing an election meeting in this town in Telangana, he accused the TRS of going back on its promise to merge it with the Congress after formation of Telangana state.

"They had also said that a Dalit will be the first chief minister of Telangana. They forgot their promises. They will also forget the promises they are making to you," he said.

Addressing his first public meeting in Telangana region after the parliament passed the Telangana bill in February, he said the TRS had no role either in drafting the bill or passing it in parliament. He alleged that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to stall the bill.

Gandhi said the 60-year-old dream of Telangana people would come true on June 2 with the formation of Telangana state.

"Without the Congress and without Sonia Gandhi this dream could have never been fulfilled," he said.

Advising people to dream big, he asked them to bring Congress to power both at the centre and in the new state of Telangana to change their lives.

"If you bring Congress to power, we will develop Telangana because Congress knows how to rule, how to achieve development and how to make all sections of people part of the development," he said.

Gandhi said Congress alone could ensure social justice, protect secular values and carry along all sections of people. He targeted the BJP saying the party pit Hindus against Muslims and work only to benefit few businessmen and industrialists.

"They want two India. One for poor and another for rich. We want one India where all people should enjoy the fruits of development," he said.

"Today, the clothes you wear, the wristwatch and footwear you use, all carry made in China label. I dream of a day when all these items carry made in Telangana and made in India labels. I also want to see a day when people in other countries use mobile phones and cameras, they carry made in Telangana and made in India stickers," he said.

Claiming that the UPA government during last 10 years lifted 15 crore people out of poverty and empowered poor through revolutionary schemes like rural employment guarantee, food security and right to education, he said if UPA came to power in 2014, it will give three more powers to people.

Rahul said the Congress would ensure a house for every poor, free healthcare to poor and pass a bill in parliament for 33 percent reservation for women.

He said the women self-help movement, which is strong in Andhra Pradesh, would be extended to other states and 2,000 police stations would be set up exclusively for women.

Former union minister S. Jaipal Reddy, who is contesting from Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency, Congress candidate from Nagarkurnool Nandi Yellaiah, party candidates from 14 assembly constituencies in Mahabubnagar district, and Telangana Congress chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah were also present.