TRS is opportunistic, says Sonia

Hyderabad, April 27 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday lashed out at the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), saying its opportunistic face again stand exposed. She also charged the TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao with betrayal by going back on his promise to merge his party with the Congress.

Addressing two election rallies in Telangana, she said that TRS is only interested in power.

"The TRS chief was an ally of the UPA but he never fulfilled the promises. He betrayed us. His activities show that he was not with us for Telangana but for his vested interests. He is now carrying out a propaganda as if he formed Telangana state," said Gandhi without naming Chandrasekhara Rao.

Addressing a rally at Andole in Medak district Sunday evening, she said TRS chief was not present in parliament when the historic bill for formation of Telangana state was tabled. "It proves how sincere he was in passing the bill," she said.

The Congress chief said the language of intimidation being used by the TRS leaders against people of other regions would only hurt Telangana.

She said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by opposing the Telangana bill in Rajya Sabha showed its true face. She said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress party also created hurdles but the Congress fulfilled its promise and delivered Telangana state.

"The TDP by joining hands with the BJP has shown its communal face. You know who is changing the face. TRS and these parties have no principles. Their only aim is to achieve power. They will sell even their faith for power," she said.

Earlier, addressing a rally at Chevella in Ranga Reddy district, she lashed out at the TRS. "TRS earlier supported communal forces and this time also it can't be trusted," she said.

Gandhi said that TRS has the same disease from which the BJP is suffering.

"They don't see anybody else around their leader. Parties with this thinking can't be trusted in a democracy. They don't bother about poor, minorities and women. They can only be selfish. The future of the state can't be safe in the hands of such unethical people," she said while urging people to be careful while electing first government of Telangana.

The Congress president was on the second leg of her election tour of Telangana, where the simultaneous elections to assembly and Lok Sabha will be held on April 30.

Gandhi said the TRS leaders always stated that that Congress will not form Telangana state and now that the party has formed Telangana, they are trying to take credit for the same.

She said Congress faced lot of difficulties in evolving consensus among political parties and even suffered political loss but it did not care.

While the TDP, YSR Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party kept changing their stand, the Congress refused to compromise on hopes and aspirations of people of Telangana, added Gandhi.

"If there is a real hero of Telangana's victory, it is the citizen of Telangana," she said amid loud cheers.

Claiming that Congress has clear vision and plan for Telangana's development, she said Rs.40,000 crore would be spent for making Telangana green and prosperous.

She pointed out that Congress government undertook many projects in Ranga Reddy district including Rs.6,000 crore outer ring road and development of Rajiv Gandhi international airport. She said one of 100 satellite cities planned across the country would come up in Vikarabad in Ranga Reddy district.

Gandhi reiterated that only Congress can run the government with responsibility and carry all sections of the society.