TPCC chief Revanth’s statement in US creates furore
K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad
TPCC President Revanth Reddy’s statement in the US on free power supply has created a furore in Telangana. All BRS leaders criticised Revanth saying that the Congress is an ‘enemy’ of farmers. IT Minister KT Ramarao gave a call to stage protests for two days against Revanth. Revanth’s comments on free power supply for farmers shocked Congress too. To come out from the shock, the Congress leaders defended Revanth’s comments on free power. TPCC Star Campaigner Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy said that it is wrong if Revanth really said that there is no need for free power supply to farmers. Others said Revanth was trying to explain the corruption in the 24-hour free power supply scheme.
In fact, Revanth said in the US that there is no need for a 24-hour free power supply and that three to eight hours of quality power is enough for farmers.
Revanth had said that 95 per cent of farmers are small and marginal ones who have less than three acres.
One hour’s power supply is enough to irrigate an acre and three hours’ supply is enough for three acres, Revanth had said. He had said that overall eight hours of free power is enough for a farmer.
Revanth said that the BRS government had brought 24-hour free power slogan for the sake of pocketing commissions from power generation companies. He had said that freebies should not be inappropriate and that KCR has been hoodwinking the people in the name of free power.
“‘Freebies’ must not be used for selfish needs,” Revanth had said, responding to a question by an NRI who asked whether the Congress will continue free power supply, Dalit Bandhu and other BRS schemes.
“I don’t know the context of Revanth’s comments. He himself has to give a clarification on this. He was not in the Congress to know how we tried hard to give free power to farmers. Congress is the first party in India to give free power supply to farmers. YSR convinced Sonia of the need for free power. We will include free power supply in our manifesto. Revanth’s comments are personal. It is wrong if Revanth really says that there is no need for free power supply to farmers. However, Revanth and I are just coordinators. We have no right to say that. Farmers should not believe the BRS campaign,” Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said.
Former MP Ponnam Prabhakar said that BRS leaders distorted the comments of KTR as Revanth spoke about the corruption involved in the purchase of power. Congress means farmers and farmers means Congress, he said, challenging the BRS leaders to come forward for a debate on corruption in free power supply.
Is the BRS government ready to conduct a probe by a serving judge on power corruption, he asked and added that the BRS is afraid of Congress’s popularity in the state.
TPCC Campaign Committee Chairman Madhu Yashki Goud asked KCR to explain why he kept silent while in the TDP when the police opened fire against farmers at Basheerbagh who were demanding free power.
He said that KCR was a member of the TDP government during the Basheerbagh firing. “We have evidence on the corruption behind the 24-hour free power supply scheme. KCR’s family has a hand in the power purchase deal,” he said.
Senior TPCC Vice-President Mallu Ravi said, “In the farmers’ declaration, we have said what we will do for farmers if the Congress comes to power. Now, BRS leaders are distorting PCC president Revanth’s comments. Didn’t KCR support the three anti-farmer laws at the Centre? When YSR was giving free electricity to farmers, KCR asked how YSR gave it. In the name of 24-hour free electricity for farmers, the government is colluding with private companies and is misusing public funds.”
