Hyderabad, Feb 28 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, on Friday, accused the BJP of conspiring to politically and economically ‘weaken’ South India.
He also alleged that the BJP was trying to stay in power by increasing the number of parliament seats from North India and cautioned that this would lead to a grave crisis in the country.
He said the BJP was also trying to do injustice to the South in delimitation of constituencies by taking up the exercise on the basis of population.
He told media persons that Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Parliament seats of South India will not be reduced.
“He did not say that the Parliament seats in South India will be increased. The number should go up proportionately. He should have stated how many seats will be increased,” said Revanth Reddy.
He also demanded that the BJP spell out terms of reference for the delimitation exercise.
“Will it be on the basis of population or pro rata basis. Without clarifying this, how can you say that seats will not be decreased,” he asked.
The Chief Minister said the BJP was planning to increase Lok Sabha seats for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar just as it diverted funds to those two states.
He alleged that the BJP was hatching a conspiracy against South India as the party does not have much of a presence here.
Revanth Reddy said the Centre should specify the number of Lok Sabha seats it wants to increase and the basis for the same.
“If it wants to increase the seats by 50 per cent and accordingly enhance the number of seats in Uttar Pradesh from present 80 to 120, the number of seats in Telangana should go up to 26 from present 17. The increase should be proportionate,” he added.
The Chief Minister said if population was taken as the basis for delimitation, it would do grave injustice to South India.
“It was the Union government which gave a call for population control. The southern states adopted population control and as a result, the population in these states stabilised. The northern states did not follow the policy of population control and their population increased rapidly,” he added.
Revanth Reddy warned that if southern states were punished for population control, it would lead to serious consequences.
“We will not let BJP’s conspiracies continue. We will fight against the Union government,” he said.
The Chief Minister once again targeted Union Minister for Coal G. Kishan Reddy and reiterated the allegation that he obstructed the clearance of the Hyderabad Metro Rail phase-2 project.
“The Centre is mocking the state government for asking funds for the use of the project. The Central leaders took up the Sabarmati, Ganga and Yamuna river projects. Why should we not clean Musi river,” he asked.
Reacting to Kishan Reddy’s statement, Revanth Reddy said they would not cow down to his threats.
Accusing BJP of double standards on the Muslim reservation, he dared the saffron party to remove four per cent reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh where NDA is in power. He asked if BJP would remove reservations for Backward Class Muslims in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Revanth Reddy spoke to media along with newly appointed AICC in-charge for Talangana Meenakshi Natarajan after they attended the meeting of the extended executive of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister urged leaders and party activists to take the party programmes and government decisions to the people.
“Sincere party leaders and workers will be recognised. Nominated posts were already given to those who worked hard for the party. Some leaders who worked for a long time did not get opportunities. Party took the responsibility of protecting their interests and will give them priority in the coming days,” he said.
Revanth Reddy also told party leaders and cadres that their main agenda is to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister.
“We should not rest until Rahul Gandhi becomes the Prime Minister,” he added.
–IANS
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