Want to hear lies? Listen to KCR, PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi launches scathing attack in Telangana

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday kicked off the poll campaign of Congress in Telangana by launching a scathing attack on CM K Chandrashekar Rao and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Accusing the two of failing to fulfil promises, he said: "If you want to listen to lies, listen to CM KCR and Mr Modi's speeches," he said. Urging people to trust Congress, he said that he had never made any false promises. "Only Congress party has the ability to fulfil the aspirations of Telangana," he said. He also attacked both the leaders accusing them of indulging in corruption.

Addressing a massive public meeting at Bhainsa town in Adilabad district, he told people that five years were wasted as Chief Minister Rao shattered the dreams of the new state. He alleged that only KCR's family "cornered" all the benefits. "Rs 3000 crore has been allocated to build CM KCR's house, but no funds have been allocated to the Sugar factory in Nizamabad as promised," he said.

He claimed that KCR was resorting to corruption in irrigation projects by redesigning them to benefit his family and friends. "This project was named after Ambedkar and was to be built at a cost of Rs 38,000 crore but KCR has revised the cost to Rs 1 lakh crore. Other irrigation projects were also redesigned to hike their cost," he said.

This is his first visit to Telangana after the announcement of the poll schedule.

Speaking at the rally, he said that if voted to power, Congress would implement the legislation brought by the UPA government to protect the lands of farmers and tribals and return the lands which were forcibly acquired by the KCR government. He also promised that Congress will waive all farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh and pay Rs 3,000 unemployment allowance to youth.

He alleged that KCR had failed to fulfil his promises to provide one job in each family, three acres of land to every Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe family, two bed-room houses for poor and drinking water to every household. "More than 1 lakh government posts are vacant in Telangana today. CM KCR has only filled 10,000 jobs in the last 5 years. Congress CM will work hard to provide employment," he said.

Training guns at the PM, he said that just like KCR, Modi had also made false promises including Rs 15 lakh in every bank account, two crore jobs every year and remunerative prices for farmers.

He reiterated that Modi snatched Rafale contract from public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and gave it to Anil Ambani to benefit him to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore. "India's chowkidar has stolen people's money," he said.

The Congress leader also alleged that Modi spreads hatred. "He pits people of one religion against another, one caste against the other and one region against another. "He is weakening the country. Congress believes in uniting people irrespective of their religion, caste and region and that the difference between BJP and Congress," he said.