Cong demands Mulki rules to promote local industry

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Friday came up with a surprise demand in the Legislative Council. Deputy Floor Leader Mohd Shabbir Ali demanded that the government introduce Mulki rules in the industry. Speaking on the new industrial policy, he wondered why the government was talking about laying red carpet at Shamshabad airport for the investors coming from outside, while ignoring local investors. “No where the policy speaks of the measures the government would take to attract local investments,” he said.

• This stance in view of TRS playing sentiment factor
• It has of late been mounting attack on TRS govt

He recalled how the capitalists from Andhra Pradesh had exploited the state in the past. Urging the government to do justice to the local industrialists, he said that if the local investors were encouraged to set up units in the state, it would help the youth in getting jobs.

Shabbir felt that if government wants to encourage outside investors then it should introduce Mulki rules that existed during the Nizam’s time. They were squashed by the Supreme Court and were replaced by 371-D Presidential order. Observers see this as a strategic move by the Congress party to hit out at the TRS in its own language. The TRS has so far been harping on the sentiment factor to keep its image high among the people.

The Congress is also trying to paying back in the same coin. It may be recalled that recently Congress leaders D K Aruna and G Chinna Reddy alleged that TRS government was imposing the culture of North Telangana on South Telangana. Earlier, the T Congress floor leader in legislative council D Srinivas had pitched in for local quota in the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR).