With much fervour, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) convened its 17th plenary on Friday. However, the Opposition called out the ‘double-standards’ of the party for erecting illegal hoardings alongside roads, which could endanger motorists and cause accidents.
The TRS activists, besides decking up the entire city with pink banners, erected illegal cutouts alongside the road leading to the venue in Kompally and also put up temporary arches to signify the event.
Taking objection to this, Congress leader and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) spokesperson, Krishank, said that the TRS and its minister KTR need to ‘practice what they preach’.
Interestingly, the TRS government in 2016, had imposed a blanket ban against posters, flexi banners and cutouts. However, the High Court had rejected the circular issued by the Ministry of Municipal Administration and Urban Development after the Telangana Flex Printers and Employees Association had challenged the order.
Pointing this out, Krishank dubbed the TRS party as a ‘drama company’ and called KTR a ‘farce’.
He asked why KTR who has been projecting himself as an environmentalist and a leader with a difference, did not object to it.
Further, he said that the Congress would file an RTI to know how L&T (Hyderabad metro concessionaire) allowed the TRS to erect their posters on their premises—pillars.
“We want to know how much the TRS paid to the L&T for allowing their posters on metro pillars.”
He added, “These cutouts deviate the attention of the motorists and may cause accidents. During the last plenary, one temporary arch had almost fell, which could have seriously injured a pedestrian or motorist. The TRS party should understand the problems of the commoners,” Krishank said.
Even the Principal Secretary (Municipal Administration) had directed officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) recently to take criminal action against offenders who erect illegal hoardings, banners, and they have been slapping notices and imposing penalties on the offenders.
Senior Congress leader Jeevan Reddy referring to the GHMC attitude said, “Will the GHMC act upon and take action against the TRS? Is law only meant for the public. Is TRS above the law?”
“This government is full of double standards,” Reddy said.
It may be recalled that Minister of Municipal administration and Urban Development K Taraka Rama Rao has in the past condemned erecting posters by his party workers celebrating his birthday. Further, he even imposed a penalty on them. However, this time, the illegal cutouts seem to have gone unnoticed.