Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir slams KTR for his comments on Rahul Gandhi's walkathon

HYDERABAD: Former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir of the Congress on Saturday slammed TRS working president and minister K T Rama Rao for his comments on Bharat Jodo Yatra, stating KTR did not have the stature to speak about Rahul Gandhi who is trying to unite the country.

"KTR or TRS leaders will never understand the importance of the Bharat Jodo Yatra which is aimed at protecting the nation from the politics of hatred by divisive forces," he said.

On KTR's allegation that the BJP government at the Centre is tapping his phone, Shabbir Ali said TRS was tasting the same medicine it served to opposition leaders in Telangana. "TRS government resorted to illegal phone tapping and spied on the activities of opposition leaders, especially those belonging to the Congress. What's more, CM KCR also allegedly tapped phones of some of the TRS leaders and his cabinet colleagues. When I tried to call some ministers to make representations on public issues, they did not pick up my phone. When I complained to them about it in person, they told me that they were under the scanner of CM KCR and all their phones were being tapped," he said.

Shabbir Ali said the TRS had remained a spectator when Congress lodged a strong protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP Govt at the Centre on the Pegasus issue. TRS openly backed the BJP government when the entire opposition objected to illegal phone tapping and now KTR is trying to play the victim card, he said.

Replying to a question on RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to a mosque and Madrasa, Shabbir Ali said RSS leaders could not be trusted. All citizens, irrespective of their religion or caste, have equal rights and powers as per the Constitution of India. However, RSS promotes hatred and division among people based on their religion, he said.

Earlier in the day, Shabbir Ali also addressed a meeting attended by AICC presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge at Gandhi Bhavan. Addressing the meeting, Shabbir Ali said Kharge hails from Gulbarga and had studied in Hyderabad. Therefore, he enjoys close relations with Telangana Congress leaders. He hoped that almost all TPCC delegates would vote for Kharge to elect him as the new AICC president.