Reacting sharply to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao's remark describing Rahul Gandhi as the country's "biggest buffoon", the Congress on Thursday hit back calling Rao a dictator.
The Congress condemned KCR's decision to dissolve the Telangana assembly, terming it "undemocratic" and said the party was ready for early elections. It also stated that the caretaker CM was acting as a puppet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
AICC in-charge of Telagana Ram Chandra Khuntia said the slogan of the Congress party would be "KCR Hatao, Telangana Bachao" for the elections. He also said the Congress is not averse to having an alliance with any party other than the BJP and TRS.
"There was neither a natural calamity nor there was a short of majority in the House. This decision is totally undemocratic, with a political motive to misguide the Telangana people. We strongly condemn this undemocratic action," said Khuntia.
Replying to the ‘buffoon’ comment, Khuntia said, "He is the biggest buffoon. Only a buffoon can say that. He is a dictator more than Hitler. This is the end of the era of a dictator, who is more dangerous than Hitler. He is a chief minister who has not gone to the Secretariat for 4 years."
Nearly nine months before its term was to end, the Telangana Assembly was on Thursday dissolved by the Governor on the recommendation of the state cabinet.
"Can a person who comes from a movement deny people their democratic rights," asked the Congress leader.
Khuntia said though people had given a mandate to the TRS to rule for five years, KCR dissolved the Assembly nearly 10 months ahead of time. He said early elections to Assembly and subsequent polls to Lok Sabha will hamper development in the state.
The Congress leader said by going for early polls, KCR himself declared the end of KCR era. He exuded confidence that the Congress will come to power in Telangana with a thumping majority.
Meanwhile, Telangana Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy asked the Election Commission to come clean in the wake of a statement by KCR that he spoke to the poll panel for dissolution of Assembly.
"The Election Commission has a lot to answer for because KCR has said that he spoke to them before dissolution. This created suspicion as the Election Commission had announced revision of voters' list in Telangana from September 1 and the process was to end on January 1, 2019. The Election Commission should clarify what he spoke with them and what they spoke with him."
Reddy termed as blatant lies the claims by KCR about the growth rate and development of Telangana.
He claimed that Telangana was number one in the country in terms of sale of liquor and also number one in farmers' suicides. He accused KCR and his family of looting Telangana by resorting to corruption in various projects.
Terming the coming elections as a fight between KCR family and people of Telangana, he said that people will teach a befitting lesson to the family.
IANS inputs