Amit Shah makes false claims regarding Telangana Congress manifesto

While addressing a public meeting on December 02, 2018, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah made misleading claims regarding the Congress’ manifesto for the state.

Let’s have a look at the claims Shah made and bust them:

Claim 1: Hospitals for minorities

“माइनॉरिटी के लिए अलग अस्पताल बनाने की बात करते है| मैं पूछना चाहता हु राहुल गाँधी को जो गरीब तेलंगाना माइनॉरिटी कम्युनिटी में नहीं है उनका दोष क्या? (They [Congress] talk about building separate hospitals for minorities. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi what about the poor who do not come under Telangana minority community?),” questioned Shah. He tend to implied that the grand old party is providing free healthcare only to minorities and not to those who are poor but do not come under the minority community.

Whereas, the Congress manifesto says:

• Government Hospitals will be established in minority concentrated areas (and not only to minorities)
• A 20-30 bedded hospital will be constructed in each mandal
• A 100-bedded hospital will be constructed in each Assembly segment
• ESI Hospitals will be upgraded and employees, workers and labourers of unorganized sector will be provided free treatment

Claim 2: Scholarships to minorities

“मित्रों वो २० लाख रूपया माइनॉरिटी के स्टूडेंट्स को देंगे| मैं पूछना चाहता हु पिछड़ा समाज का ओबीसी समाज का गरब बच्चा जिसके पास पड़ने के लिए पैसे नहीं है, उसको पैसे मिलने चाहिए या नहीं मिलने चाहिए? (Friends, they [Congress] will give Rs 20 lakh to minority students. I want to ask if OBCs of the backward sections of the society should be given money or not?),” asked Shah.

Whereas, the Congress manifesto says:

• Poor minority students will be given Rs. 20 lakh assistance for overseas education
• B.C. students will be given Rs. 25 lakhs scholarships for overseas studies
• The youth, belonging to SC and ST communities, who participated in Telangana movement will be given 50% works in all government contracts
• Five percent (5%) of all government contracts will be given SC, ST and other groups. Dalit contractors will be made eligible to participate in tenders worth below Rs. 2 crore without depositing the Earnest Money Deposit

Claim 3: Separate recruitment of Urdu teachers

“मित्रों मैं कहना चाहता हूँ वो कहते है उर्दू जानते है ऐसे टीचरों को अलग से भर्ती करेंगे| तो तेलुगु बोलने वाले टीचर कहा जायेंगे? तेलुगु लिखने पड़ने वाले टीचर कहा जायेंगे? (Friends, I want to say that they [Congress] wish to separately recruit Urdu-speaking teachers. Then where will the Telugu-speaking teachers go? What will happen to teachers who read and write in Telugu?),” the BJP President questioned.

Whereas, the Congress manifesto says:

• Unemployment Allowances of Rs. 3,000 per month will be given to at least 10 Lakh jobless youth
• A Mega DSC will be conducted within 100 days of coming to power to recruit 20,000 Teachers. The DSC will be conducted as per old system
• A calendar will be released giving entire schedule of recruitments to be made by the State Government in Group-1, Group-2, Group-3, Departmental and other posts. This will be done on the lines of UPSC and SSC
• DSCs will be held on regular basis. Degree percentage will be given weightage or B.Ed, D.Ed and TET qualified candidates will be given an opportunity to appear for DSC
• Telugu and Urdu Academies will be given funds for promotion of both the languages

Claim 4: “Free electricity to mosques and churches, not temples”

“मित्रों ये कहते है कांग्रेस पार्टी कहती है मस्जिद और चर्च का लाइट बिल तेलंगाना गवर्नमेंट भरेगी| उसमे हमे कोई आपत्ति नहीं है मगर मंदिरों का क्यों नहीं भरोगे भाई? मंदिरों का भी भरना चाहिए या नहीं बहाना चाहिए? (Friends, this Congress party says that Telangana government will pay the electricity bill of mosques and churches. We do not oppose this but why will they not pay for temples? Should electricity bills of temples be paid or not?),” questioned Shah.

Whereas, the Congress manifesto says:

• Free power supply will be given to all temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship
• Funds will be released for repair of temples, mosques and churches by introducing a proper system
• A survey will be done on the encroachments of land belonging to temples, mosques and churches and necessary legislation will be done to protect their properties
• Pujaris and staff of 643 temples will be provided accidental insurance

This shows that the claims made by Shah regarding Telangana Congress manifesto were twisted and were either incomplete or false. While campaigning for elections, politicians tend to twist facts in order to influence voters.

People should not believe everything they hear. They should verify before believing anything.

Credit: Alt News