Hyderabad, August 28: Congress senior leader and Advisor to the Telangana Government (SC, ST, OBC & Minorities) Mohammed Ali Shabbir ridiculed the heroic welcome accorded to BRS MLC K. Kavitha following her release from Tihar Jail.
In a media statement on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali strongly condemned BRS leaders for creating hype around Kavitha’s release and celebrating the occasion by bursting crackers and distributing sweets. He noted that Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for her alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy scam. He emphasised that Kavitha was released on conditional bail and not acquitted of the charges.
“It is a matter of shame that a woman leader from Telangana was arrested in a scam related to liquor. Instead of being apologetic, BRS leaders are celebrating as if she were a freedom fighter arrested for a public cause,” Shabbir Ali remarked. He added that Kavitha faces serious charges of money laundering and tampering with evidence. BRS leaders should clarify the reasons for her arrest rather than creating hype around her release on bail.
Shabbir Ali alleged that Kavitha’s release was linked to a secret understanding between BRS and the BJP in Telangana. He claimed that BRS facilitated the BJP’s victory in several seats in Lok Sabha elections in Telangana by diverting its vote bank to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre. As a result, he asserted, the BJP helped Kavitha secure bail from the Supreme Court by instructing the ED and CBI not to strongly oppose her release.
The Congress leader further stated that Kavitha was the first in KCR’s family to be arrested on corruption and money laundering charges. He predicted that many more BRS leaders, including former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, his son and former minister K. Tarakarama Rao, and his nephew T. Harish Rao, would face imprisonment due to the Kaleshwaram scam. He added that the judicial probe into the irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project was nearing completion and that all those involved in the scam would be arrested and sent to jail.
Shabbir Ali assured that the Congress government in Telangana, headed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy would not spare anyone involved in corruption and scams during the BRS regime.
He also condemned KTR for objecting to installing a statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the premises of the Telangana Secretariat. He highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s significant contributions to nation-building and his ultimate sacrifice for the country. Shabbir Ali stated that KTR’s objection to Rajiv Gandhi’s statue was highly deplorable. He suggested that the Secretariat should also feature statues of Mahatma Gandhi, former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and first education minister Moulana Abul Kalam Azad. (eom)