Apara Bhagirathudu KCR: Narendra Modi

Gajwel (Medak): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extolled Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for the latter’s endeavour towards achieving the aspirations of people after the formation of Telangana. Speaking at a public meeting after launching Mission Bhagiratha at Komatibanda village in Gajwel mandal of Medak district, Modi said though Telangana was the youngest state in the country, the TRS government under the leadership of KCR is striving hard to achieve desirable goals and also meet the high expectations of the people over the last two years.

Thanking the people for extending warm welcome during his maiden visit to the state after the formation of Telangana, the Prime Minister said KCR had a long vision for the development of the state. “During his meetings with me, the Chief Minister had always discussed state’s development. Water is a big mission for KCR in his life,” said Modi. KCR also informed him (the PM) that he had visited Kutch and some other places in Gujarat to study the drinking water supply schemes launched during Modi’s regime and also adopted some useful techniques that suit Telangana.

“We do not recognise the importance of water when it is available in abundance. Only during water crisis, governments and people recognise the value of water,” said Modi. Expressing gratitude to KCR’s party for supporting the GST (Goods and Service Taxes) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Modi said his government extended all kinds of support to Telangana for its development. Due to the Centre’s efforts, Telangana could save crores of rupees in purchasing electricity at meagre prices to meet the energy demand. In the last two years, many states achieved surplus power status with the support of his government, he said.

“Projects worth nearly Rs 17,000 crore jointly by the Centre and state government have already been taken up in Telangana in areas of energy, transport, water and fertilizers. All railway projects sanctioned to Telangana would be completed in the scheduled time,” the PM added. Modi emphasised on the need for closer ties between the Centre and state governments to achieve holistic national development. The Prime Minister said that growing competition among state governments in achieving their respective targets was also a good sign for the country’s development.

KCR also took the opportunity to praise the Modi government. He lauded the PM for running the Central government with zero corruption during the last two years. Perhaps, Modi’s is the first government in the independent India that did not face any corruption charges in its two-year rule, he added.

“We want the PM’s love and blessings before getting any help from the Centre. My government will not place any unnecessary demands before the Union government. I request Modiji to accord permission to set up AIIMS, national status to at least one irrigation project, an IIM and clear the pending ITIR project in Hyderabad,” he said and sought the Centre’s help for promotion of industries under TS-iPass scheme.

The Chief Minister thanked Modi for increasing Central devolution from 32 per cent to 42 per cent and allocating funds under the backward areas development scheme and also clearing the long pending conversion of state highways into national highways in Telangana. “The Centre has also increased the loan limit from Hudco for taking up infrastructure projects,” he said. Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Power Piyush Goyal, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, Fertilizer and Chemicals Minister Ananta Kumar, Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and others were present.

By Patan Afzal Babu