Hyderabad: Alleging that the Congress was the No. 1 hurdle in the development of Telangana state, municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao on Monday said that the people should get rid of it.

Addressing the TRS Vidyardhi Vibhag convention in Telangana Bhavan, the minister rubbished the claims that it was the Congress that granted statehood to Telangana.

“The same Congress had merged Telangana region in 1956 much against the wishes of the people and it also evaded granting of statehood to Telangana for many years. Indeed Congress leaders of Telangana worked against the movement,” Mr Rama Rao said, adding that it was only due to strenuous efforts of TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao that generated a mass movement which ultimately forced the Congress to concede the demand.

He accused Congress leaders were now resorting to stalling the development of the state by taking up agitations against irrigation schemes and other development projects.

Mr Rama Rao asked the students’ wing of the TRS to publicise the state government’s development agenda, including exposing the Congress’ anti-development stance.