Rahul strikes a chord, speaks of ‘Made in Telangana’ tag

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday sought to strike an emotional chord with the people of Telangana stating that he would like to see ‘Made in Telangana’ tag in consumer goods including clothing and electronic items that are currently made in China.

“Most of the clothes that you buy and wear carry the ‘Made in China’ tag. I would like to see this situation change in the near future where one can see ‘Made in Telangana’ and ‘Made in India’ tags. And this is possible only if the Congress comes to power,” Gandhi said, addressing a public meeting in the backward Mahabubnagar district.

The Congress leader, who devoted a major part of his speech to drive home the point that Telangana was on the verge of becoming a reality on June 2 only because of Congress President Sonia Ganadhi, said the Congress would ensure employment to millions of youth in industries coming up in the industrial corridors that are being developed all over the country. “When the youth find employment in various sectors, the China tag will be automatically replaced,” he said.

The Congress, he said, had chalked out several welfare measures for the poor and weaker sections in the country including housing for all, free medical treatment and women’s empowerment by taking up the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament as a priority if the party comes to power. “Besides, we will also be setting up 2,000 dedicated women police stations all over the country for their security,” he said.

Stating that the Congress believes in delivering its promises to the people, Gandhi said it was this same commitment that made Telangana a reality. “We respected your sentiments and aspirations. Now both the states have dreams, and we will ensure that these dreams are fulfilled,” he said, adding that just as the Congress kept its word of delivering Telangana, it will also ensure the development of the residuary Andhra Pradesh state.

Gandhi, without naming Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao, took him head on, pointing out that he had promised merger with Congress post-Telangana, but went back on this subsequently. “He also announced that a dalit would be the first chief minister of Telangana. The party has forgotten all these promises. Similarly, he will make all kinds of promises to the people, and will forget it in a blink,” he said, adding that TRS leaders were only after power.

“If you want your state to develop, then you need a government which has a vision for the future and can provide security and stability. The Congress knows how to run the nation and states. We will ensure excellent all-round development of Telangana by taking together all sections of society, and that will be the true realisation of your dream rather than merely achieving separate statehood,” he said.

Reeling out various projects that would be taken up for the development of the new state, the Congress vice-president said the party will accord national status for the Pranahita-Chevella irrigation project. “Besides, a 4,000 MW power project, the biggest in the country, would be set up in Telangana. We will also ensure a 10 year tax holiday for backward districts in the state. All the revenue generated in Hyderabad would be utilized only for the development of Telangana,” he said.

Urging people to vote for the Congress, Gandhi said: “You can have small dreams or dream of big things. If you want to see the ‘Made in Telangana’ tag, and want all round development of the state, then you should vote for Congress, because small dreams will not get you anywhere, besides preventing you from performing to your full potential.”

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