Rahul blows poll bugle in Telangana, attacks PM Modi, KCR

Setting the tone for upcoming assembly elections in Telangana, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the latter is trying to "divide the nation."

"People who belong to weaker sections in India are being threatened. In today's India, women are scared of stepping outside. The reason behind this is, for the first time in India, the Prime Minister is trying to divide the nation," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a rally here.

Besides Prime Minister Modi, the Congress president also criticised Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party president and caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, for not fulfilling all the promises he made to the people of the state.

"KCR had promised to give one job to each family, three-acre land to Schedule Case and Schedule Tribes, 12 per cent reservation to Aadivasis, but he has failed in fulfilling all his promises just like Prime Minister Modi. You trusted KCR and chose him in the last elections. Everyone thought their wishes will be fulfilled sincerely. But now, people have realised that all he did was corruption," Gandhi said.

"Rajiv Sagar Project, Indira Sagar Project were introduced with the cost of Rs 2500 crores, however, the chief minister changed it to Rs 12000 crore. Just like in Telangana, KCR changed the project of Rs 38,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore, in the same way, Prime Minister Modi bought the Rs 526 crore Rafale aircraft for Rs 1670 crore," he added.

The Gandhi scion further stated, "More than 1 lakh government posts are vacant in Telangana today. KCR has only filled 10,000 jobs in the last four years. Rs 3000 crore has been allocated to build KCR's house, but no funds have been allocated to the Sugar factory in Nizamabad as promised."

Taking a dig at the Centre's demonetisation move, Gandhi said, "All the economists in the world say Demonetisation is a failed idea, but KCR supported Prime Minister Modi in banning notes and making the whole country stand in queues."

The Congress chief also said that in Telangana, "KCR is helping the BJP" and stands with them. He added that even All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has also joined KCR to help Prime Minister Modi.

The Telangana State Assembly was dissolved prematurely by K Chandrashekar Rao, who called for the advancement of polls in the state. The Legislative Assembly elections in the state are due to be held on December 7 to elect members of the 119 constituencies.