Hyderabad: BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has criticized TDP national president and former CM N Chandrababu Naidu, recalling an incident where seven handloom workers died in Bhoodan Pochampally during Naidu’s tenure. KCR recounted urging Naidu to provide Rs 50,000 ex-gratia to the families but received threats instead. Rao expressed dismay at Naidu’s failure to act, leading him to personally appeal for funds in Nizamabad and Abids, resulting in Rs 7 lakh assistance for the weavers. He highlighted initiatives in Gadwal, Dubbaka, Bhuvanagiri, and Sircilla aimed at aiding handloom weavers.
Reflecting on distressing messages on village walls urging weavers not to commit suicide, KCR emphasized his commitment to support them, stating, “We decided to assist handloom workers upon establishing Telangana, as witnessing such pleas on walls in independent India’s 65 years is distressing.