HYDERABAD: Congress MLC Vijayashanthi asserted that Telangana is not the personal property of K. Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) , reiterating that the state’s formation resulted from the sacrifices of 1,200 martyrs, not solely due to KCR.
During a media conference at Gandhi Bhavan, Vijayashanthi criticized KCR’s motives, alleging that he initiated the Telangana movement only after being denied a ministerial position in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). She recalled that while she was actively involved in the struggle for Telangana, KCR remained with the TDP. She also claimed that KCR persistently sought the merger of her ‘Talli Telangana Party’ into his own. Furthermore, she questioned KCR’s absence during critical parliamentary debates on Telangana, where she fought alongside another member.
Vijayashanthi questioned whether KCR’s decade-long tenure as Chief Minister was solely due to the votes of certain influential groups. She urged him to learn to respect marginalized and weaker sections of society. Highlighting her personal sacrifices, she stated that while she sold her assets to support the Telangana movement, others exploited the state’s resources under the guise of activism. She expressed concern over the state’s financial situation, questioning how a surplus state accumulated debts totaling ₹7 lakh crore within a decade. She demanded transparency regarding the utilization of these funds and warned that she would not relent until satisfactory explanations were provided.
Vijayashanthi also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that it aims to introduce anti-Telangana forces into the state, potentially reviving feudal dominance. She accused the BJP of suppressing movement leaders and questioned the respect accorded to her during her tenure with the party, suggesting that introspection is necessary regarding her departure.
