KCR transforming Telangana into dictatorship: Congress

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy has accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of transforming Telangana State into a dictatorship by smothering all democratic institutions.

Reacting to the 'merger' of four defected MLCs of Congress into TRS, Gudur Narayana Reddy said that the entire episode shows how KCR was misusing the Legislature, one of the pillars of democracy, as its slave. "The Anti-Defection Law was not applied when as many as 25 MLAs and over two dozen MLCs defected to TRS since 2014. Neither the then Speaker Madhusudan Chary nor Council Chairman Swamy Goud reacted on the disqualification petitions filed against defected members by the opposition parties. But they were quick to accept the 'merger' petitions filed by the defected MLAs and MLCs. Both their 'inaction against defected members' and 'action to finish presence of opposition in the House' were anti-democratic. They murdered democracy just to please KCR for the time being. But Madhusudan Chary and Swamy Goud will be remembered in history as 'betrayers of Constitution'," he said in a statement on Saturday.

Gudur Narayana Reddy said Telangana was apparently the only State in the country where Constitution of India is not being implemented properly. "KCR has no respect for the Constitution or any other democratic institutions. He has enslaved Legislature, Executive and Media and does not respect judiciary. This is nothing but dictatorship," he said.

He said that KCR wants to rule like a dictator and he has no respect for Legislature. "Though the results of Telangana Assembly elections were declared on December 11, KCR showed no seriousness in forming a cabinet or convening the Assembly session to at least facilitate the elected MLAs take oath of office and secrecy. Having spent most of the time at his farm house, KCR is now going for a three-day family tour to other States. While the Congress Chief Ministers in three States signed files waiving off crop loans of farmers within hours after taking oath, KCR did not take a significant or even symbolic decision for people's welfare," he said.

The Congress leader also condemned KCR for targeting some IAS and IPS officers who tried to ensure fair elections in their jurisdictions. He said some officials who reportedly refused to indulge in poll irregularities were now being targeted and are likely to be transferred which purely amounts to political vendetta. Similarly, he said some media houses who did fair reporting during elections are facing harassment by the ruling party.

"TRS has won the elections only due to EVM manipulation and other poll irregularities. Even KCR knows that people have voted for Congress-led People's Front across Telangana State. With the help of Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar and other poll and police officials, KCR was able to manipulate voting figures and declare himself victorious. TRS victory was not real, but superficial. As a criminal who tries to destroy all evidences of his crime, KCR is trying to target everyone who could expose his involvement in the biggest polling scandal of independent India," he alleged.

Gudur Narayana Reddy said that the Congress party would continue its fight to restore democracy in Telangana. He said that the Congress leaders work for the people and they would not remain a mute spectator to the assault on democracy and its institutions in the State. "By buying out MLAs and MLCs, KCR can restrict the presence of Congress party in Assembly and Council. But he cannot prevent the Congress party from staying in the hearts and minds of people," he said.