BRS Leader Harish Rao Claims Congress Owes Rs 60,000 to Every Telangana Woman
Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader T Harish Rao launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Telangana during municipal election campaigning, alleging significant unfulfilled financial promises to women and pensioners. Speaking at multiple public meetings across Medak and Mancherial districts, the former minister presented detailed calculations of what he termed the government's "debt" to citizens.
Unfulfilled Financial Assistance Promises
Harish Rao asserted that the Congress government owes approximately Rs 60,000 to every woman in Telangana due to its failure to implement the promised Maha Laxmi scheme. "During the assembly elections, Congress promised Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to women under the Maha Laxmi scheme," he stated. "Over the past two years, this amounts to Rs 60,000 that remains unpaid to each eligible woman."
Drawing comparisons with previous administrations, the BRS leader highlighted that during K. Chandrashekar Rao's tenure as chief minister, women received sarees for Bathukamma festival celebrations. He contrasted this with what he described as the current government's empty promises.
Pension Disparities and Agricultural Concerns
The former minister pointed to neighboring Andhra Pradesh as an example of pension scheme implementation. "Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is successfully paying a monthly pension of Rs 4,000," Harish Rao noted. He recalled that KCR had similarly promised and delivered increased pensions immediately after taking office in 2014.
In contrast, he accused current Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of failing to implement the promised Rs 4,000 pension even after two years in power. "Why is Revanth Reddy unable to do what other states are accomplishing?" he questioned during his campaign speeches.
Regarding agricultural support, Harish Rao alleged that the Rythu Bharosa scheme had been extended for only two out of five crop seasons since the Congress came to power. He criticized new eligibility rules based on satellite imagery for land cultivation verification, claiming these had caused distress among farming communities.
Municipal Taxation and Electoral Appeals
The BRS leader specifically targeted the Congress government's municipal policies, using Jinnaram as a case study. "When BRS was in power, we maintained Jinnaram as a gram panchayat to avoid imposing additional tax burdens on residents," he explained. "Soon after Congress assumed power, they converted it into a municipality and introduced new taxes."
Harish Rao urged voters to support candidates who would reduce their financial burdens rather than increase them. He made a direct appeal for the BRS's electoral symbol, the car, suggesting that a strong showing would pressure the government to fulfill its promises.
Minority Community Allegations and Future Promises
The senior politician claimed that BRS remained the only party genuinely supporting minority communities in Telangana. He cited the implementation of the Shaadi Mubarak scheme during the previous administration as evidence of this commitment, while alleging the current chief minister had accomplished little for Muslim communities.
Looking toward future elections, Harish Rao asked voters for patience, suggesting that a BRS victory in municipal polls would pave the way for the party's return to state power within two years. "Only when BRS wins will women receive their Rs 60,000 and aged persons get their Rs 4,000 pension," he concluded, framing the municipal elections as a referendum on the Congress government's performance.
