(Online Desk)
In a tit-for-tat kind jibe, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao dared to take on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to ridicule the latter’s claims on surgical strikes.
“I know during the Congress-led UPA-I tenure in which I was also part of the cabinet, Indian army had carried out as many as 11 surgical strikes, but never boasted of, as done by the Modi now,” he thundered at an impressive election rally in Miryalguda on Friday evening.
He made light of Modi showing photos of ‘surgical strikes’ and seeking votes from the people. “Can there be anything more absurd than this?” he asked in his usual colloquial slang. KCR, as he is fondly known among masses, also said he had not seen such ‘gol mal’ in Indian politics during his entire political career as he is witnessing now.
Pointing out to Modi’s Mahabubnagar meeting where he attacked him, KCR said he was speaking all lies. He dared the PM and his party colleagues for a debate on the merits of the state government’s ‘Arogyasri’ and Centre’s ‘Ayushman Bharat’ health scheme. Hence, he said his government had not subscribed to the Centre’s health scheme as the state scheme was much more beneficial to the people of his state.
KCR also claimed that BJP will not win more than 150 seats in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls and the Congress 100. As a result, an opportunity opens up for the regional parties to come together and establish a real ‘Federal government’ at the Centre for allround development of the country. “I shall take the initiative to form a formidable coalition of regional parties naming it appropriately as ‘national party’ to stake claim and form next government,” he explained to crowds amidst thunderous applause.
He also found fault with BJP for dividing the nation on religious basis and calls it a ‘pseudo Hindu’ ideology party.
In sarcastic tone, he said ‘chaiwala had gone and chowkidar’ had come in. “What did he do for SCs, SCs and STs and other backward classes during his tenure. Why didn’t he set up a separate ministry for the BCs at the Centre, despite demands?” he asked.
In the same breath, he also criticized the Congress for doing nothing since independence, although enjoyed power at the Centre maximum time.