A day after the entire top brass of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) came down heavily on him, Telangana Political Joint Action Committee Chairman Professor M Kodandaram on Tuesday launched a counter-offensive and reminded the TRS that it was the JAC which had brought all the political parties on one platform to support the separate Telangana State during the struggle.
Addressing a public meeting in Mancherial town of Adilabad District on Tuesday on "Public Aspirations and the Government functioning" Kodandaram rebutted all the charges of the TRS leaders and Ministers and said that he or the JAC does not need any recognition from the Government.
"I have the recognition of the people and people will not forget me", he said. On the TRS' question of who was behind him, Kodandram said, "people are behind me and no one else. The JAC was working only for the wellbeing of the people".
JAC was working above political lines to ensure the welfare of the people and to see that the Government fulfills its promises.
In a direct attack on the TRS Government headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Kodandram questioned the land acquisition policy of the Government.
"like a wild wolf preying upon sheep, the Government authorities are pouncing on poor people, who are banking on agriculture. How can the Government take up land acquisition without their consentIJ What is the difference between you and the previous Governments of combined StateIJ" he asked.
He was referring to the Government's attempt to vacate 14 villages for Mallanna Sagar dam in Medak District. He warned that the JAC will continue its struggle for the sake of the people.
With a fresh Kodandaram’s outburst, the war of words between the two sides was likely to intensify further as TRS leaders feel that Kodandaram can become a rallying point for the anti-Government forces, as he carries goodwill of the people and enjoys a clean image.
Meanwhile the main opposition Congress party has also come out in support of Kodandram. Senior Congress leader T Jeevan Reddy condemned the attacks of TRS leaders on Kodandaram. "This is an insult of all the Telangana loving people. He had played a key role in the formation of Telangana State", he said.
"TRS is attacking Kodandaram because he has criticised the State Government and the Chief Minister", he said, alleging that there were no civil rights in the State.
TRS on the other hand continued to target Kodandaram for a second consecutive day. State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy said that Kodandaram's statement against the Chief Minister was an insult to the people of Telangana. "He should immediately withdraw his remarks", he told the media in Hyderabad. He listed out the measures initiated by the KCR Government to develop Hyderabad into a global city by bringing companies like Google and Apple and also promotion of industries through a new policy.