• Congress leaders pay rich tributes to ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi on 30th death anniversary

Kamareddy, May 21, 2021: Rich tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi on his 30th death anniversary on Friday by former minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir and other leaders here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Shabbir Ali recalled the services rendered by Rajiv Gandhi and said that the former Prime Minister had left an indelible impression of his regime. Describing him as the architect of Digital India and father of the Information Technology and Telecom Revolution of India, Shabbir Ali said that the vision of Rajiv Gandhi was helping the country in fighting a war against Coronavirus pandemic. “The entire management of Covid pandemic, including tracking, testing and treatment is being done using IT and its applications whose foundation was laid by late Rajiv Gandhi,” he claimed.

Shabbir Ali said that after becoming the Prime Minister of India at the age of 40 years in highly difficult circumstances, Rajiv Gandhi involved youth in the nation-building exercise by empowering them with the power of vote at the age of 18 years. Further, he said Rajiv Gandhi strengthened the Panchayat Raj institutions, revolutionised higher education by introducing a new policy and also empowered women. He said Rajiv Gandhi’s life inspires everyone to fight against the odds to overcome challenges. He said Rajiv Gandhi’s ideology would also help in the ongoing battle against the Coronavirus.

The Congress leader ridiculed BJP and TRS leaders who questioned the contribution of the Congress party in nation-building. “Almost 100% of health infrastructure, including hospitals, research institutions, laboratories, drugs manufacturing plants, etc., was built during Congress regimes. Neither BJP Govt at the Centre, nor TRS Govt in Telangana has added anything to the health infrastructure. Instead, they ruined the existing institutions and infrastructure with poor management,” he said.

Shabbir Ali alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has failed to prevent the damage caused due to Covid-19 pandemic in Telangana in the last one year. “CM KCR acted like ‘Kumbhkaran’ and did not wake up from his slumber despite lakhs of people getting infected with the disease and thousands losing their lives. As per the official data, as many 5,44,263 people got infected so far and 3,060 lost their lives as on May 20, 2021. However, the actual number of deaths is at least 4-5 times higher than the official figure. Instead of taking measures to save people’s lives, CM KCR concealed the real statistics of Covid cases and deaths. He is now trying to cover up his failures by misleading the people by making visits to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad and MGM Hospital in Warangal. Was he waiting for over 3,000 people (officially) to die due to Covid before making a visit to Gandhi Hospital?” he asked.

The Congress leader said that the KCR Govt has utterly failed to manage the Covid-19 situation. He said that the High Court has pointed out several lapses and even negligence by the State Government in dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic. Instead of taking corrective measures, KCR only made cosmetic changes to create a positive narrative. More than people’s lives, both PM Modi and CM KCR are worried about their image, he alleged.

Shabbir Ali said that the mismanagement of Covid-19 pandemic has spoiled the reputation of India as an emerging global leader. The BJP and TRS Govt did not learn any lessons from the first wave of Covid and failed to ensure availability of hospital beds, oxygen, medicines and other essential items in required quantity. On one side, they are not improving the facilities in government hospitals. On the other side, they are permitting private and corporate hospitals to loot the patients by way of exorbitant and unjustified billing. He said that the situation has turned so bad that people have no money for treatment while many of them don’t even have any amount to perform the last rites. Despite the second wave creating havoc, PM Modi and CM KCR were not inclined to mend ways and prepare in advance for a possible third wave, he said.

Earlier, as per the directives of All India Congress Committee (AICC), Shabbir Ali distributed oxygen cylinders, sanitisers, medicines and ration kits among the families affected with Covid-19. This material was provided under the aegis of Shabbir Foundation. He lauded the services being rendered by Congress leaders and workers in the Kamareddy district in helping the people ever since the outbreak of Covid-19 last year.