HYDERABAD: Even as uncertainty continues to prevail over when the Telangana Cabinet expansion takes place, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka remained non-committal on the issue.
When the subject was broached during his informal chat with the media in New Delhi on Thursday, the deputy CM said: “Only the high command will take a decision on Cabinet expansion.”
Referring to the Congress government’s one year in office in Telangana, he said that more than 50 per cent people were satisfied with the state government’s one year rule, which he said, meant that the majority of the people were with the Congress.
“Achieving 100 per cent satisfaction in governance is unrealistic as democracy inherently involves some degree of opposition. The Congress rule in the state is more focused on governance, which had somewhat affected its outreach efforts,” he said.
The deputy chief minister said that the state government was keen on starting integrated schools in all the 119 Assembly constituencies in the state. Each school will be built on 25-acre land, Vikramarka said.
Sankranti gift to farmers
Stating that the Congress government was committed to providing Rythu Bharosa benefits to farmers from Sankranti, Vikramarka said that the benefits under this scheme and Rs 2 lakh farm loan waiver will surpass the bonus provided in the past.
Criticising the opposition BRS, Vikramarka pointed out that the previous government did not even follow the Assembly procedures and clarified that there was no rule as to how many days the Assembly should be in session.
Referring to the hue and cry raised by the BRS over the Telangana Talli statue, he wondered why they had not declared their model of Telangana Talli officially during their 10-year rule.
Vikramarka said that the Congress government had paid Rs 64,000 crore in principal and interest on loans incurred by the BRS regime in the last 11 months.
Reiterating the Congress’ commitment to improving the welfare of students in hostels, he stated that diet charges have been increased after 10 years.