Telangana CM says independent India's goals yet to be achieved

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said though the country has made considerable progress post-Independence, the goals set to be achieved by the country were not met.

Speaking after hoisting the National Flag at the Golconda Fort here on the occasion of Independence Day, he said the country is endowed with natural resources and hard-working people, but these are not being utilised properly due to the inefficiency and bankruptcy of ideas of rulers.

“People are suffering unnecessarily despite having everything," he said.

The poverty among Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and backward classes was yet to be eradicated, he said. Independence would have full meaning only when the resources are fully utilised and the fruits of development reach all sections of society, he added.

Alleging that all sectors in Telangana region suffered immense damage in undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said Telangana faced discrimination and exploitation as leadership in the region supported the "leaders of the united state" and remained mum.

Life in Telangana 10 years ago was marked by dried agriculture crops and water bodies and all round despair, the CM recalled. The BRS government which assumed office under such difficult circumstances took up the "reconstruction of Telangana" as a sacred duty, Rao said.

The state has achieved rapid progress since then and the government has put the state at the top in the country in many sectors. Telangana is number one in the country now in per capita income and per capita power utilization, he said.

The per capita income of Telangana is Rs 3,12,398. Referring to the recent rains and flooding in the state, the Chief Minister said the government could prevent loss of life and property to a great extent.

The heavy rains made up for the rainfall deficiency during June and July and paddy is expected to be cultivated in a record 64,54,000 acres in the state, he added. (PTI)