BJP fights for publicity in Rythu Vedikalu plan

BJP leaders are demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party members of Parliament get their due share of publicity in centrally sponsored schemes of the state government, one of which is Rythu Vedikalu.

The Centre is paying ` 10 lakh under the NREGS towards the construction of each Rythu Vedika which costs `22 lakh. Currently, images of the local MLAs and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao are featured at the entrance to the Rythu Vedikalu. Paintings highlighting the state government’s welfare schemes are featured inside.

BJP leaders are preventing the inauguration of the Rythu Vedikas, demanding that the buildings also feature the portraits of the Prime Minister and the local MP.

It is said that the BJP is demanding this to draw political advantage in the next elections by displaying the extent of the Centre’s support to the state government’s welfare schemes and development works.

BJP leaders had tried to obstruct minister Allola Indrakaran Reddy when he arrived to inaugurate the Rythu Vedika at Sonala in Boath mandal in Adilabad district on January 9.

The BJP is likely to intensify this demand in the coming days. The BJP leaders and public representatives have started a campaign in the villages that the Centre is giving `28 for each kg of free rice being distributed to the poor in the state. BJP leaders say that the Centre is paying a part of the cost of ‘KCR Kits’ and financial assistance given to pregnant women who deliver in government hospitals.

The BJP leaders pointed out that the state government had named the kits after the Chief Minister but had never given due credit to the Prime Minister.

BJP leaders also claim that the Centre is funding the 2BHK flats being constructed in the state. This funding comes from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

TRS leaders and MLAs strongly opposed to sharing credit with BJP MPs and the Prime Minister.

BJP MP Soyam Bapurao has already given a call to the party cadre to despoil the paintings of the Chief Minister and the local MLAs on the Rythu Vedikalu building if they did not make space for images of Modi and the local BJP MPs.

He also raised an objection for the name of Union minister of state G. Kishan Reddy’s name not being mentioned on the foundation plaque for a bridge and roads that are being taken up with Central government funds under the left wing extremism affected areas development scheme.

● CENTRE IS paying ` 10 lakh under the NREGS towards the construction of each Rythu Vedika which costs ` 22 lakh.