Rosaiah was first in the country to allocate budget for minorities’ welfare: Shabbir

Hyderabad, Dec.4 (Maxim News): “I’m deeply pained over the passing away of Dr. Konijeti Rosaiah Garu, former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh & ex-Governor of Tamil Nadu. He was a statesman with vast experience, knowledge and talent and was loved by all for his simplicity and patience. His demise is a personal loss for me. He was a true mentor and guide for me for over three decades,” said former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Saturday.

In his condolence message, Shabbir Ali recalled his association with Dr. Rosaiah Garu for the last three decades. “We were cabinet colleagues from 1989-1994 and then from 2004-2009 in the cabinets of then Chief Ministers Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy, Dr. Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. I was just 32 years old when I was inducted as a minister in the cabinet of Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy in 1989. Dr. Rosaiah Garu treated me as his student and made me learn several practical lessons of governance and politics. He was an authority on financial management and administration. We used to call him a living university and used to approach him seeking solutions for our problems,” he said.

Shabbir Ali said as the then Finance Minister it was Dr. Rosaiah who allocated an amount of Rs. 3 Crore for the Welfare of Minorities in 1993-94. “He was happy about the formation of the country’s first Minorities Welfare Department by the Congress Government. He believed that no welfare activities could be taken up without adequate funding. Therefore, he made an allocation in the annual budget. This move was so strategic and perfect that all governments in future were forced to allocate a budget for the Welfare of Minorities. Subsequently, the allocations were raised in every budget and they reached to Rs. 33 Crore in 2003-04. When Congress party returned to power in 2004-05, he increased the allocations by manifold and by 2013-14, they increased to Rs. 1,000 crore. All minority communities will remain indebted to Dr. Rosaiah Garu for his foresightedness and vision,” he said.

“Having worked together as cabinet colleagues from 1989-1994, I got the opportunity to work under his leadership in the party. When he was appointed as the PCC President in 1995, I was made the General Secretary. His style of functioning was so graceful that we always felt honoured being called a part of his team,” he said.

Shabbir Ali said Dr. Rosaiah was always accessible to people, especially the Congress leaders whenever they needed his advise on important matters. “He released a book on my speeches as the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council on December 19, 2016. While expressing satisfaction over my performance, he gave me a good lecture on the duties and responsibility of an opposition in a democracy,” he said.

“Dr. Rosaiah was an institution in himself. His passing away is a huge loss for the country, especially for the Telugu States. The Congress party has lost a very big leader and his absence will be felt forever. His demise is a huge loss for me as he was a guide, mentor and a father-like figure. His services for the country and people will be remembered forever,” he said.

Shabbir Ali, along with other leaders, visited Dr. Rosaiah’s residence in Ameerpet and paid rich tributes to the departed soul. He conveyed deep condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family members. (Maxim News)

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