KCR & kin milking State exchequer: Cong

Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his family of siphoning off the money from State exchequer. Speaking at the "Meet-The-Press" programme, organised by Telangana Union of Working Journalists here on Monday, the Congress leader alleged that KCR diverted funds meant for departments under his control or those falling under portfolios of his son K Taraka Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao.

He also alleged that KCR has been using Telangana resources as his personal fiefdom. “Except KCR and his family, no one has benefited from the formation of Telangana State. People had a lot of expectations with the formation of new State. They expected that resources like water and land would be utilised for State's development, a share in power and restoration of self-respect and culture of Telangana. But, KCR has turned their dream into a nightmare," he said.

KCR was neither helping the distressed farmers nor visiting the kin of those who committed suicide, he said. He further added that KCR was not honest on 12 per cent Muslim reservation. When asked about issues for Warangal LS bypoll, Shabbir Ali said his party would expose the failures of TRS government and also raise the Alair and Warangal encounters. While five Muslims were killed at Alair, Shruti and Vidya Sagar were killed by police in Warangal.

The Congress leader also alleged that MIM and BJP were going together to damage the Muslims across the country. He said Congress would take on MIM during GHMC elections. "MIM leaders have grown rich. Their assets have multiplied by many times in the last few years. But their voters and residents of Old City have remained poor.

MIM-backed illegal money lenders were collecting exorbitant interest of 10 per cent per day and 30 per cent per month from poor vendors and auto drivers. MIM did nothing to improve the conditions of people living in the Old City," he said. TUWJ president Shoukat Ali Sufi, general secretary Hadi Raheel, vice-president MSJ Vara Prasad and other office bearers were also present.