Kiran acting like Seemandhra CM: Shabbir Ali

Kamareddy, August 10: Congress MLC and former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir has accused Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of acting like a Seemadhra CM.

Addressing a massive public meeting here on Saturday, Shabbir Ali said that despite giving an assurance to the Congress High Command that he would abide by the decision taken by Congress Working Committee, the Chief Minister was deliberately hurting the sentiments of Telangana people. He requested the party High Command not to get misled by the Chief Minister and other Seemandhra leaders.

Shabbir Ali argued that when there could be nine Hindi speaking States in the country, what was wrong in having two Telugu speaking States. He reminded that the Chief Minister while addressing public meetings in Karimnagar and Nizamabad has promised to abide by the Congress High Command’s decision on Telangana. However, he went back on his words and questioned the decision taken by UPA Coordination Committee and CWC, the highest decision making body. While advising the Chief Minister not to revolt against Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he said that he would lodge an official complaint against Kiran Kumar Reddy with the High Command.

Shabbir Ali, who had earlier served as Energy Minister, said that there would be no shortage of power in Telangana State due to availability of natural resources, coal and thermal plants.

He also ridiculed the claim being made by Seemandhra leaders that they were responsible for Hyderabad’s development. He said that Hyderabad was already on international map before it was merged with Andhra. Begumpet Airport, High Court, Osmania University, Nizam Sagar and other projects were also in existence.

Comparing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to separation of two brothers, Shabbir Ali said that initially everyone would feel the pain. However, things settle down in a matter of time and both States would develop at a rapid pace.

The meeting was also addressed by Major Irrigation Minister P Sudarshan Reddy, Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kumar Shetkar and others. Earlier, a massive rally was taken out from Gandhi Ganj to Satya Garden Function Hall.