Harish Rao wants 6 guarantees rules before Lok Sabha polls schedule

HYDERABAD: Former Finance Minister and BRS leader T Harish Rao has sharply criticised the non-implementation of the Telangana Congress Government's six guarantees made to the people during their recent campaign. He accused the Government of dragging its feet on implementing these crucial promises, raising concerns that the upcoming Parliamentary elections could further delay their fulfillment.

Harish Rao had an informal chat with the media at the BRS office on Sunday and spoke about variety of issues after the Congress Government came to power in Telangana.

"The Congress Government says that it will implement the six guarantees within 100 days which will end on March 17. Parliament elections are approaching. There is a possibility that the schedule will be announced at the end of February and a further delay in implementation of the guarantees if the model code of conduct comes into effect. People want implementation of six guarantees before the schedule of Parliamentary elections are announced. If the Government takes policy decisions regarding the guarantees and releases the Government Orders, there will be no problem even if the code comes into effect."

Harish felt that Congress Government released white papers as a diversionary tactic to escape the implementation of its guarantees and said, "We have already said this in the Assembly that we suspect that the white papers were released to evade implementation of guarantees. If the Government wants to do anything regarding the guarantees, it should be done by February 20, 2024. It seems that the Government wants to pass the State budget on vote-on-account. The implementation of its promises is possible only if the Government budgets are passed in full scale. If we don't pass a full budget, every expenditure will have cuts."

Harish said that when he visited districts after the elections, people complained that they did not receive Rythu Bandhu yet. "Another important guarantee by the Congress was the announcement of bonus for crop cultivation by farmers. No bonus has been given in this kharif season yet. Yasangi crop too will come at the time of Parliament elections. If the State Government does not take a policy decision on giving out bonus for Yasangi crop now, the farmers will suffer in Yasangi season.

"Revanth promised in the election meetings that Rythu Bharosa, farm loan waiver, increase in Asara pensions, waiver of power bill within 200 units will be implemented on December 9, 2023. People are worried that this has not been implemented yet" he said.

On the Chief Minister's claim that the BRS Government had purchased new convoy vehicles which were hidden in Vijayawada, he said, "What is there for the Government to hide? Anyone should send vehicles to Vijayawada for bullet proofing. Can't the Government use them?"