HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday found fault with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for the way in which he sacked his deputy T Rajaiah and termed it an ‘insult to all Dalits.’
Speaking to reporters after the Republic Day celebrations at the Raj Bhavan, TPCC vice-president and deputy CLP leader in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir said although the CM had every right to induct or drop a minister, the way Rajaiah was dismissed was highly objectionable.
“The CM neither framed charges nor gave an opportunity to Rajaiah to explain his version. The sudden dismissal was against the spirit of democracy and reflects the dictatorial attitude of Rao,” he said.
Asked about the earlier Congress government too sacking P Shankar Rao from the cabinet when it was in power, Shabbir Ali clarified Shankar Rao was given a week to submit resignation. “He was dismissed only at the end of the deadline,” he recalled adding that same cannot be said in the case of Rajaiah.
The former health minister had claimed that he would have resigned by himself had he been told to do so by the CM. “Instead of ensuring a dignified exit, he was humiliated in public,” Shabbir Ali said.
Shabbir Ali also demanded that the CM spell out the reasons for dismissing Rajaiah from the cabinet. “If the reason is corruption, what are the specific charges? Who else was involved?” he asked and demanded a CBI probe into the allegations.
Shabbir Ali said the entire TRS government is being viewed with suspicion due to its actions. Citing examples, he said the CM had first ordered demolitions at Ayyappa Society and then, maintained questionable silence. “Thousands of complaints of corruption are being received against the CM’s peshi, ministers and ruling party MLAs on the toll free number provided by Rao himself during his Warangal visit,” Shabbir Ali claimed and demanded that Rao order a probe into these allegations.
Shabbir Ali alleged that KCR openly encouraged defections in violation of the Anti-Defection Law. The Congress leader claimed there will be defections from TRS into Congress after the Assembly’s budget session.