Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today drew severe flak from opposition parties including BJP, Congress and Telugu Desam Party over the prevailing power crisis in the state, which they alleged has resulted in suicides by over 300 farmers in the last four months.
The opposition parties, as well as the Andhra Pradesh government, attacked KCR, as the Chief Minister is commonly known, for his allegedly abusive remarks against his counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu on the power situation.
On Friday night, KCR allegedly used foul language against Mr Naidu while seeking to blame the latter for the existing power woes in the new state.
The opposition parties today disapproved of KCR's acerbic remarks, cautioning that badmouthing others would not help resolve a problem.
"KCR is only trying to cover up his failures by blaming others. What has he done in the last four months to overcome the power crisis in the state? He did nothing and hence over 300 farmers committed suicide," leaders of Telugu Desam Party, BJP and Congress alleged in separate press conferences.
"Police records say 318 farmers committed suicide in Telangana in the last four months. On Diwali day alone, 14 farmers ended their lives abruptly but the chief minister is feigning ignorance about it," Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Ponnala Lakshmaiah said.
"What did KCR do all these days and months if at all AP was violating the Reorganisation Act? Why did he not take the opposition parties together to report the violation to the Centre or the President?" Ponnala said.
Veteran Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council, D Srinivas, had a word of praise for Mr Naidu, saying the latter took steps to overcome the power shortage in Andhra Pradesh.
"No such effort has been made by the Telangana CM. Instead, he is passing the blame for the current crisis on others," Srinivas alleged.
"KCR promised 'golden Telangana' but it has turned into a 'suicides Telangana'. The Chief Minister himself has been saying the power crisis in Telangana will continue for next three years. The government does not have a proper plan to draw power from states like Chhattisgarh though they are ready to share it," BJP state unit President and MLA G Kishna Reddy said.
He also asked the Telangana government to immediately convene an all-party meeting to discuss the power situation.
"If required, the government should lead the all-party delegation to the Governor to find a solution to the crisis.
"The problem cannot be resolved by badmouthing others," Mr Reddy pointed out, referring to KCR's criticism of Chandrababu Naidu.
The Telangana government should take immediate steps to address the power crisis and also to stop suicides by farmers, he demanded.
Telugu Desam Party leaders in Telangana -- Errabilli Dayakar Rao, Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy and E Peddi Reddy -- also demanded that the state government call an all-party meeting to discuss the power situation without delay.
"Over 300 farmers have committed suicide in the new state so far. KCR promised eight hours of power supply to the agriculture sector but now he is not even able to supply electricity for 3-4 hours a day. The AP government has come forward to supply 300 MW of power to Telangana but KCR rejected it only due to ulterior political motives," the TDP leaders lashed out.
Andhra Pradesh's communications advisor Parakala Prabhakar came down heavily on KCR, saying the latter's remarks against Mr Naidu are "unbecoming" of his stature.
"He has crossed all limits. Being a Chief Minister, it is highly unbecoming of KCR to use such intemperate language.
"Moreover, what else he spoke is blatantly false," Prabhakar told a press conference.
He said that Telangana Chief Minister seemed to have not understood the substance of government order (GOs) 69 and 107 that regulate the use of water at Srisailam reservoir.
"Nowhere in the GOs has it has been mentioned that water could be used for power generation in times of crisis. In fact, the current irrigation minister of Telangana, T Harish Rao, was a minister in the erstwhile Cabinet of YS Rajasekhara Reddy when the GO 107 was issued," he pointed out.
Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments agreed to abide by the said GOs in utilisation of Krishna river water but now the KCR government is blatantly violating its word, Mr Prabhakar said, referring to the power generation at the Srisailam Left Power House that has become the centre of the current dispute between the two states.
"Don't violate the law and also don't lash your tongue," Mr Prabhakar warned KCR.
Meanwhile, AP Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao took strong exception to the "foul language" the Telangana CM used last night against his AP counterpart.
"KCR is speaking blatant lies. By using such foul language being a Chief Minister, KCR is making all Telugus bow their heads in shame. Chandrababu is working to protect the interests of all Telugu farmers," Umamaheswara Rao said.
The Telangana CM should stop indulging in false propaganda against his AP counterpart, the minister added.
Telangana was pushed into a severe power crisis as the TRS government lacked foresight, he said.