Hyderabad:  Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is firm on challenging the Central government’s supremacy by forming a “third front”, wanted to know why the Union government should control all subjects like agriculture, education, rural development and urban development, instead of devolving powers to States.

“Congress Party and BJP, which have ruled the country most of the time in the past 70 years, have encouraged centralisation of power with the Centre. Because of this, all powers relating to any key subject are now with the Centre. This situation is creating hurdles for the country to develop on all fronts,” he said, while addressing his party leaders and workers, who thronged the CM’s camp residence, Pragathi Bhavan, here in a large numbers on Sunday to back his decision to move to national politics.

Recalling that in a vast country like the United State, not only each State but also each urban local body is given free hand to formulate policies depending on the needs of local people, Rao advocated for implementing the similar type of “decentralisation”of power in our country also.

“The only solution to bring in a qualitative change at national level is to decentralise power. Central government should have limited powers and States should be given  more power to enact laws, formulate policies and undertake development works, depending on their local and demographic needs,” he suggested.

Alleging that the Central government is not releasing funds and projects to State’s depending on their needs, Rao said whenever Chief Minister of any State goes to Delhi and seeks funds for the respective State, the leaders in Delhi try to satisfy them with sweet-talk. “Later, the leaders in Delhi do nothing. How long should we hear such (cock-and-bull) stories from them?”

According to him, though the Centre has all powers to take any decision in the best interest of the country, the leaders in Delhi are not taking any initiative to improve the lives of various sections of people such as farmers, labourers, employees and others.  He further said because of Centre’s apathy to resolve pending issues between various States, people of the respective State’s are suffering a lot.

“The case of dispute between AP and TS over sharing of Krishna water is a classic example. It took nearly 14 years to resolve this issue. In fact, Centre is pitting one State against the other. It is then playing a role of mute spectator by watching the Thamasha. In fact, 70,000 TMC ft of water is available in the country. If Centre takes initiative to distribute river waters among various States appropriately, such water disputes will never arise,” he attacked.

Hence, Rao said there was a need to form a third front at national level to fight against BJP and Congress Party for betterment of all section of people across the country.

Reacting to the comments made by some BJP leaders that soon KCR would be sent to jail, the Chief Minister went ballistic at the saffron party leaders, saying, “KCR will never be browbeaten by such threats. Instead of trying to threaten me, government should act against corrupt leaders, who amassed wealth.”