KCR’s Letter Praises Modi

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating him on the eve of launching the ambitious Central Vista project tomorrow. Central Vista is a grand redevelopment project including a new Parliament building, a common central secretariat and revamped 3-km Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate.

KCR called it a “project of national importance” and a symbol of national pride and self-esteem.

“The new Central Vista project will be a symbol of self-esteem, prestige and national pride of a resurgent, confident and strong India. I wish for the speedy completion of this prestigious and nationally important project,” KCR wrote in the letter.

The letter gains political significance in the wake of the vociferous campaign the TRS led against the BJP in the recently-concluded GHMC elections. The harsh statements by the TRS leaders against the BJP leaders during the electioneering in Dubbaka bypolls and GHMC elections stand in stark contrast to the praises being heaped by KCR on BJP leader and PM Modi.

It should also be remembered that the TRS participated in the nation-wide Bharat Bandh in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the BJP-led Central government and raised slogans against Modi.

In the letter, KCR said that the project was long overdue as the existing government infrastructure in the national capital is “inadequate and also associated with our colonial past”.

Modi would lay the foundation stone for the Rs 20,000-crore Central Vista project, including four-floor new Parliament building, at 1 pm on December 10 which is estimated to cost nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

Meanwhile, it is also being felt that by praising Modi’s pet project, KCR probably wants to corner the BJP which had attacked him over his decision to demolish the Secretariat building in Hyderabad. The BJP leaders denigrated him for skewing priorities during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Telangana Chief Minister, known for believing in vastu, wants to build a new Secretariat and his new office building at the cost of Rs 600 crore with six floors, he considers the number “six” lucky.

The Central Vista project has drawn criticism from opposition parties, historians and green activists.

The Supreme Court has ordered the government to halt all construction activities under the project following petitions challenging the plan over environmental concerns.

However, it gave a nod to the PM to go ahead with the groundbreaking ceremony saying: “You can lay the foundation stone, you can carry on paperwork but no construction or demolition, no cutting down any trees.”