Hyderabad, December 23, 2021: Former Minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of instilling fear among the Christians by indicating attack on their community.
Shabbir Ali said that the Chief Minister, while speaking at the Christmas dinner programme at LB Stadium on Tuesday, reportedly stated that it was the responsibility of the government to safeguard all communities and ensure that there are no attacks on anybody. “Why is he mentioning attacks? Who is attacking Christians? Does he have any specific information about such possible attacks?” he asked in a media statement on Thursday.
The Congress leader alleged that CM KCR was trying to convey an indirect message to the Christian community that they were ‘unsafe’ in Telangana and his government was ‘protecting’ them. “It has been a strategy of RSS-BJP and their allies to gain political strength by capatalising on the fear of minority communities. Although KCR is a secret-ally of BJP, he has started implementing RSS tactics of using fear psychosis,” he alleged.
“Several promises made by the Chief Minister with the Christian community remained unfulfilled in the last seven years. While addressing the first Christmas celebrations after formation of Telangana in 2014, KCR had promised to construct a Christian Bhavan at the cost of Rs. 10 crore. He even announced that the Christmas of 2015 will be celebrated in the new Christian Bhavan. The promise remained unfulfilled and he kept repeating the same promise consecutively for three years. Even after seven years, Christian Bhavan in Hyderabad is a distant dream,” he said.
Shabbir Ali said that CM KCR did not release funds for the welfare of Christian community during the last seven years. He said not even once in the last seven years that the allocated amount for the Christian Minorities Finance Corporation were fully released and utilised. He said not even 25% of Rs. 2.5 crore allocated during 2020-21 were released. “Hosting dinner for 10,000 people and giving them Rs. 300 worth gifts once in a year will not benefit the Christian community of over 5 lakh people. They need jobs, education and a fair share in the welfare schemes,” he said.
Shabbir Ali said that the Chief Minister has been cheating the Muslim, Christian and other minority communities since 2014. “A dress and a dinner once in a year will not eradicate poverty among the minorities. Their children need Fee Reimbursement and Scholarships to get higher education. If they get jobs, they can earn a good salary and take care of their families without depending upon the government. Similarly, Christian youth need loans to start their businesses. But the TRS Govt is against the social, economic, educational and political empowerment of the minority communities in Telangana,” he said.
“KCR behaves like a king and expects all the citizens to stand before him with a begging bowl. He apparently loves the sight of poor people standing in long queues to get a new dress or have dinner once a year. He failed to fulfill all the promises he made with the Christians and now he is trying to get the community’s support by promising them protection against possible attacks,” he alleged.
Shabbir Ali said that the Christians and other minorities should not worry about their safety as the Constitution of India has guaranteed them protection on par with all other citizens. He said that the Muslims, Christians and other minorities have now realised that KCR was an agent of RSS and he has been betraying them since 2014 using deceptive tactics. He said that the welfare activities for the minorities would resume after Congress returns to power in next Assembly elections.
Wishing all Christians a Merry Christmas, the Congress leader appealed to them to stay safe by following all the Covid-19 guidelines during Christmas and New Year celebrations.