TRS is opportunistic: Sonia

• Flays both parties for being individual-centric
• TRS president KCR never stood by his word
• He was not in Parliament when T Bill tabled
• Only Cong can ensure holistic development of T
• A Rs 40,000-cr plan chalked out for new State

Hyderabad: Launching a broadside against the TRS party and its president K Chandrasekhar Rao, AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday flayed the pink party for playing opportunistic politics over the formation of Telangana State and alleged that TRS had joined hands with communal forces in the past and that there was no guarantee that it would not do so again.

Addressing meetings at Chevella in Ranga Reddy district and Andhole in Medak district, she said, “We are not seeing the opportunistic face of TRS for the first time. Both BJP and TRS suffer from the same disease and both are indulging in individual-centric campaigns,” she said.

The AICC president said that the TRs had been exploiting the statehood issue for political gains and promoting self-interests since the launch of the party. Accusing KCR of speaking the language of intimidation, she alleged that the TRS President never stood by his promise. As a UPA partner, the TRS cheated the Congress and came out of the Congress government. He was also not present in Lok Sabha when the historical bill was introduced in Parliament. “This exposes his sincerity towards separate Telangana. She said the party neither has any ideology nor credibility. “The TRS leadership always eyes only posts and power and not development of the new state of Telangana,” she thundered.

Sonia Gandhi called upon the people of Telangana and Seemandhra to have cordial relations since the period of agitation was over. She said the achievement of Telangana was the result of the fight by all sections of people and the sacrifices by Telangana martyrs. Congress also moved shoulder to shoulder with Telangana organisations and finally realised the dreams of people, notwithstanding the hurdles that were placed in its path by various parties like BJP, TDP and YSRCP. She said the Congress had to face a herculean task in convincing the UPA partners and building consensus for the State bifurcation. Her party would seek national status for Pranahita-Chevella and Palamuru irrigation projects, tax holiday for the backward districts in Telangana, create agriculture industrial corridors to help the farmers and the youth.

At Andhole, she announced that a big steel plant would be established in Khammam. The AICC president said that only Congress party had a clear route map for holistic development of the new state. She said they have a plan of Rs 40,000 crore to develop Telangana. It will also set up a 4000 MW power plant which will be one of the biggest in the country. Calling upon Telangana people to take a wise decision before exercising their franchise, she said the Congress was the only party committed to Telangana and for the reconstruction and development of the new state.