KCR crushed Dalit aspirations to become CM, says PM Modi

Hyderabad, Nov 11:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday alleged that K. Chandrasekhar Rao crushed the aspirations of Dalits to become the chief minister after promising that a Dalit will be the first chief minister of Telangana.

Addressing a rally of Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) here, he dubbed both Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Congress as 'anti-Dalit' and claimed that BJP alone can ensure social justice.

He recalled that during the Telangana movement, KCR had promised that Dalit will be made the first Chief Minister of Telangana.

"But after the formation of the state, KCR crushed the aspirations of Dalits to capture the chief minister's seat," he said.

Stating that Telangana state was achieved after the struggle of decades, he said the government which was formed in the state 10 years ago could not protect Telangana's pride.

Modi said while Telangana's skills are recognised by the entire world, when it comes to government and governance everyone gets disappointed.

He alleged that in these 10 years the BRS government betrayed all sections of people including Madigas.

He alleged that BRS also failed to fulfil the promise of land for Dalits and to spend thousands of crores on Dalit Bandhu scheme.

"The truth is that this scheme has become a scheme of relatives of BRS legislators."

PM Modi said that BRS also failed to deliver on the promise of farm loan waiver.

"In place of irrigation schemes, this government has given you irrigation scams," he remarked.

"Who can forget that Congress created hurdles in the formation of Telangana. After many sacrifices, when Telangana was formed, the BRS leader forgot you and first went to the Congress leaders to thank them," he said.

The Prime Minister asked Madigas to be equally cautious of both BRS and Congress.

"BRS is anti-Dalit but Congress is no less. By demanding a new Constitution, BRS insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar. Congress has the same history. It didn't let Babasaheb win elections on two occasions.

"For decades, the Congress did not allow the portrait of Babasaheb Ambedkar to be installed in the Central Hall of the Old Parliament and it did not confer Bharat Ratna on him. Both these things became possible when a government was formed at the Centre with the BJP's support," he added.

Modi said that like BRS, the history of Congress is also full of hatred towards Dalits and backward classes.

"Babu Jagjivan Ram Ji had to face insults from Congress. When BJP made Ram Nath Kovind the candidate for the post of the President, Congress used its full force to defeat him. When Kovind became the President, the Congress rejected him. When we proposed Droupadi Murmu as the first tribal President of India, Congress opposed her. Even now it misses no opportunity to insult her," he said.

He claimed that when the government wanted to appoint Dalit officer Heeralal Samariya as the Chief Information Commissioner, the Congress boycotted the meeting where the decision was taken and it also stayed away from his swearing-in.

Modi also alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who was championing caste-based politics was reluctant in extending support for Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan's nomination to Rajya Sabha.

He said Nitish Kumar also insulted a former Dalit chief minister Jitan Ram Manji in Bihar Assembly.

"Arrogance is the identity of Congress and allies," he alleged.

He also alleged that Congress and BRS are no different on corruption.

"Different states cooperate with each other for development work but the BRS government of Telangana joined the AAP government of Delhi to do a liquor scam of thousands of crores," he said.

He said BRS was enacting a drama of fighting against Congress in Telangana but in reality they are one.

"On one side you have Congress and BRS while one the other side there is BJP. Their mentality is to rule while BJP has the commitment to service," he said.

He claimed that the BJP strengthened the laws to check atrocities on SCs and STs.

"We ensured that the poor got a bank account, gas connection, toilet and houses. The people from SCs, STs and OBCs benefited the most from these schemes."

Stating that the government's topmost priority is the welfare of the poor and the deprived, he claimed that BJP is committed to ensuring social justice.

State BJP president G. Kishan Reddy, BJP MP K. Laxman, MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga and others addressed the public meeting.