Date:16/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/16/stories/2008041657330100.htm

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KCR earns Rs. 10 lakh in an hour

Suresh Krishnamoorthy

Lifting baskets of stone metal and some cartons fetches the TRS chief Rs. 2 lakh

HYDERABAD: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday earned Rs.10 lakh in just under an hour, working as a manual labourer at five places in Qutbullapur mandal of Ranga Reddy district. The TRS supremo set the ball rolling for his party activists to offer ‘shramdan’ in their respective villages and ‘earn’ money. The funds collected, he said, would help the party bring thousands of people from rural areas to the ‘Telangana atma gaurava sabha’ to be held at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad, on April 27.

Reaching Gandimaisamma Crossroads about three hours behind schedule, Mr. Rao first lifted five baskets of stone metal at a tar-mixing plant and was paid Rs.1 lakh. He helped load cardboard cartons at a toothpaste unit to earn Rs.1 lakh more. He also worked at a paddy field belonging to Shambipur Raju, TRS district youth president.

Just one message

Speaking to The Hindu in the campaign vehicle, Mr. Rao said he had only one message for people: “Why vote for other parties and then go begging to them for a separate Telangana? We sailed with the Congress and trusted them, but they showed their true colours -- breach of trust. We will create political compulsion.”

Mr. Rao was accompanied by former MLAs N. Narasimha Reddy, T. Padma Rao and women’s wing president Neela Padma.