Leader of Opposition in Telangana State Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of desecrating the pious institutions of Legislature.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday, Shabbir Ali said by postponing the monsoon session of Assembly and Council without even informing the opposition parties amounts to causing disrespect to the highest law making bodies in the State. He said when the Assembly and Council met on August 30 to ratify the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, the Chief Minister and Legislative Affairs Minister T. Harish Rao assured the Business Advisory Committees (BACs) that the monsoon session would be convened from September 20. However, they conveniently forgot the assurance given in the BAC and prorogued the Assembly to facilitate passing of an ordinance on new districts. This is nothing but showing utter disrespect to the institution of Legislature, which is the first pillar of democracy, he said adding that a Privilege Notice under Rule 168 would be served to both KCR and Harish Rao.
Shabbir Ali said that the Congress Legislature Party would serve a notice to KCR and Harish Rao for breach of Privilege. He alleged that the TRS Government was afraid of facing the opposition parties in Assembly and Council. Districts' reorganisation, irrigation pact with Maharashtra Govt, non-clearance of crop loan waiver dues, crop loss due to drought and then heavy rains and floods, Nayeem cases. 12% Muslim and ST reservation in view of submission of reports of both Sudhir and Chellapa Commissions and other important issues need detailed discussion. However, the TRS Government is not a position to face opposition parties on these issue, he said.
Calling KCR a U-turn Chief Minister, Shabbir Ali accused the TRS Government for taking unilateral decision on formation of new districts. He said during the all-party meeting held on August 20, the Chief Minister himself had assured that another all-party meeting would be convene before issuing the final notification. However, so far, no such meeting has been convened. "KCR will be remembered in history as a "liar CM" who broke all records of giving fake assurances and making hollow promises. He never honoured his words," he said. He also slammed the Chief Minister for carrying out the process of reorganisation of districts in totally unscientific manner.
Shabbir Ali strongly criticised the State Government for stopping payments for poor patients who are undergoing treatment under Rajiv Aarogyasri Scheme. He said that the private hospitals and nursing homes have refused to admit Aarogyasri patients from today onwards due to non-clearance of their pending dues. "Only the Chief Minister will be responsible if any poor patient dies due to denial of treatment. A criminal case under Section 302 should be booked against KCR in all such cases," he said adding that the Chief Minister should have not have stopped Aarogyasri payments under any circumstances. He said non-clearance of Aarogyasri payments contradicts KCR's claims that Telangana was the richest State in the country.
The Congress leader demanded that the Chief Minister issue a clarification for postponing the Assembly session, not holding all-party meeting on new districts and stopping payment for Aarogyasri patients.