Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said that his government wants Telangana to be known as the startup state of India and Hyderabad as the startup capital of India.

He was speaking after inaugurating the second phase of T-Hub, billed as the world’s largest technology startup incubator, in Hyderabad.

Spread over 370,000 square feet and designed to house more than 1,500 startups, the swanky campus has come up at Raidrugi, a part of the information technology corridor.

The Chief Minister claimed that T-Hub, which was launched in 2015, has now become a national role model. He recalled that it was founded to bring in the best talent from across the country to nurture a startup ecosystem.

“Today, I can proudly say we have created a world-class entity at T-Hub to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. Our state’s startup policy is progressive, it has helped forge fruitful partnerships with both corporates and academia. This is something very uniquely wonderful about our state,” he said.

KCR, as the leader is popularly known, pointed out that T-Hub has impacted over 2000 entrepreneurs and seen $1.19 billion raised in funding by T-Hub startups. It has facilitated connections with venture capitalists and angel investors, establishing a brand name synonymous with innovation.

He also noted that Telangana state’s startup ecosystem is valued as among the top 10 global ecosystems in affordable talent, and is among the top 15 startup ecosystems across Asia in attracting funds.

“In 2021, the startup ecosystem of Telangana was valued at $4.8 billion. Among cities in India, Hyderabad offers the best standard of living, and we want Hyderabad to be known as the startup capital of India. Our startups are providing valuable collaboration to the main sectors of our economy, namely IT, life sciences, aerospace, and defence, and automotives, including electric vehicles,” he said.

Noting that many startups have also created products and solutions relevant for social sectors like education, health, agriculture, sanitation, and environment, KCR said all this became possible due to the very progressive policies in the state like TS-IPass, TSBpass, and Telanganaas start up and innovation policy.

“We have made doing business easier for the startups, ensuring that they receive mentorship support, get connected with knowledge institutions and corporates as per their requirements, receive funding support, and most importantly receive automatic job orders from government departments if their product or solution is of relevance to us.”

He recalled that the journey of T-Hub started as an idea, eight years ago, when Telangana became the youngest state in India.

Around the fulcrum of T-Hub, the government promoted sister institutions to support different requirements of an entrepreneur. Today all of these institutions also, namely We-hub, T-Works, TSIC, RICH, and TASK, have become champions in their own right, he claimed.

KCR said the first phase of T-Hub showed that there is a huge appetite for entrepreneurship among the youth in India. “We felt we must capitalise on this appetite. That we must provide them with best support from the startup stakeholders and give them a space for high-quality incubation and acceleration. Three years ago, our government decided to invest in the 2nd phase of T-Hub. This new facility is five times bigger. Our aim is to incubate the next generation of startups that would one day be strong pillars for our Indian economy. We hope that, through T-Hub, these startups can strengthen their entrepreneurial spirit and bring global recognition to our state and the country with their accomplishments.”

Stating that India is only weeks away from celebrating the 75th anniversary of its independence, he underlined the need to provide a clear vision and roadmap for the country about its future, especially to youth. “Young India is an aspirational India. It wants to be challenged and seeks to compete globally. Our government recognised this aspirational India early on and wanted to put young India on the global map. We wanted to build an India known equally for its entrepreneurial and technology capabilities,” he added.

The Telangana High Court on Thursday issued notices to Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao and some top officials on a PIL challenging land allotment for TRS office in Hyderabad.

Retired employee Maheshwar Raj filed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), challenging allotment of 4,935 square yard land in upscale Banjara Hills for the ruling party’s Hyderabad district unit office.

The petitioner alleged that the costly land was allotted to TRS for a mere Rs 100 per square yard.

The court took up the petition for hearing and issued notices to the Chief Minister and TRS president Chandrasekhar Rao, party general secretary Srinivas Reddy, chief secretary, chief commissioner of land administration, revenue secretary and Hyderabad district collector. They have been directed to file counters within four weeks.

The state government last month allotted the plot of a little more than an acre to TRS on Road No. 12 of Banjara Hills’ NBT Nagar for construction of the party’s Hyderabad office. This came under sharp criticism from the opposition parties which claim that the land could be valued at Rs 100 crore.

The Congress party had described the land allotment as robbery in broad daylight. Its leaders questioned the allotment when the TRS already has a big office in the same area.

They were referring to Telangana Bhavan, the state headquarters of TRS. Inaugurated in 2006, the swanky office is spread over 40,000 square feet.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Dasoju Sravan termed the allotment a robbery of valuable public land with unholy support of official machinery.

The BJP also criticised the allotment of costly land at a paltry price. Its leaders alleged that the officers were hand-in-glove with the ruling party.

After low-key celebrations for the last two years due to Covid-19 pandemic, Telangana on Thursday celebrated the states Formation Day in a grand manner.

Led by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the state paid tributes to those who laid down their lives to achieve statehood for Telangana and recalled the long struggle by the people to realize their dream of a separate state.

The Chief Minister hoisted the national flag at his official residence Pragati Bhavan and later at Public Gardens, the venue of the main official ceremony to mark the day. He also paid floral tributes at Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park near Public Gardens.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Telangana on the occasion

It was on this day in 2014 that Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh as India’s 29th state. This followed a long movement for statehood, which was revived by Chandrasekhar Rao by floating Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2001.

During his speech, KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, claimed that Telangana with its all-round development and innovative welfare schemes in a short span of eight years has become a role model for the entire country.

Listing out the schemes implemented by his government and the progress achieved by the state in various sectors, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on the Centre for its discrimination towards Telangana.

The main official ceremony saw a police parade and performance by cultural artists. Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, DGP M. Mahender Reddy and senior officials attended the programme.

Formation Day celebrations were also held in all the districts with state ministers, other public representatives and top officials hoisting the national flag, reviewing parade and delivering the speeches highlighting the progress made by the state during the last eight years.

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan also participated in celebrations at the Raj Bhavan. She cut a cake and greeted people of Telangana on the occasion. She expressed her best wishes for the continued progress of the state.

The Ministers recalled the sacrifices made by martyrs and the struggle by people to achieve long cherished goal. They also claimed that Telangana State within a short span has emerged a role model for the entire country by making rapid strides in all sectors.

Minister for municipal administration, urban development, information technology and industries K.T. Rama Rao hoisted the national flag in Rajanna Sircilla district.

The celebrations were also organised in all government offices, institutions and offices of the political parties.

Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy hoisted the national flag at Assembly premises. Legislative Council Chairman G. Sukhender Reddy unfurled the national flag in Council premises. They garlanded statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B. R. Ambedkar.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar unfurled the national flag at BRK Bhavan, the temporary state secretariat.

Celebrations were also held at Telangana Bhavan, the state headquarters of TRS. Senior leaders unfurled the national flag and garlanded Telangana thalli.

State Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy led the celebrations at party headquarters Gandhi Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, he slammed TRS government for what he called its failure in realising the dreams of martyrs of Telangana.

Formation Day celebrations were also organised at the BJP state headquarters. State BJP chief Bandi Sanjay claimed that only BJP can build a golden Telangana.

Telangana Chief Minister Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday called on former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at his residence here and discussed “topics of national importance”.

The meeting was long a key topic of discussion in political corridors in connection with bids to form a ‘third front’ opposing both the BJP and the Congress.

The Telangana Chief Minister, who also heads the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, avoided meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Hyderabad on Thursday. On an earlier occasion too, he did not meet the PM during his visit to Hyderabad citing health reasons.

KCR, as the leader is popularly known, was welcomed by Deve Gowdaa’s son and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and grandson, politician and actor Nikhil Kumaraswamy at their residence in Bengaluru.

On the meeting, Deve Gowda, in a social media post, said: “We exchanged views on various topics of national importance. It was a candid and cordial meeting.”

The meeting has assumed importance as KCR had met his New Delhi and Punjab counterparts, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, respectively, of the Aam Aadmi Party recently, as well as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

The talk of formation of a third front came to the front then.

Meanwhile, as senior BJP spokesperson in Karnataka slammed Chandrashekar Rao for avoiding meeting PM Modi who has arrived in Hyderabad. “Not able to face PM Modi, Telangana CM has escaped to Karnataka. He is taking blessings from the father of family politics here”.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday lamented that the country is not moving on the path of progress.

He noted that many villages and urban bodies are still struggling with lack of power supply and people are living in darkness. People are taking to the streets for drinking water and irrigation water needs and expected growth in education and employment has not been registered.

The Union government is not concentrating on such important issues and instead interfering in the state affairs, he said.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, was addressing a review meeting attended by cabinet colleagues and top officials to discuss various issues.

He criticised the system being followed by the Centre since the launch of a 3- tier Panchayat raj system in the country to transfer funds to the villages directly without trusting the state government.

He found fault with the transfer of funds under Jawahar Rojgar yojana, PM Gram Sadak yojana, Employment scheme (NREGA) etc to the local bodies directly from Delhi.

The states are only well-informed about the local issues. It is not a good practice to distribute money to the daily labourers directly by the Central government from New Delhi, he said.

The chief minister said that Telangana is top among states mainly the Prime Minister’s home state Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in crop production and per capita income.

He pointed out that after Telangana state was formed, some people ridiculed the decisions and the priorities given by the state. They also mocked at conducting a review on the forest department and protection of forests by the state government.

He claimed that today Telangana stands number one in improving green cover and also environmental protection.

The chief minister also stated that Telangana is the first state which has introduced the Green Fund concept.

All the people’s representatives and officials are contributing Rs 100 to Rs 500 every month to the fund. It is also mandatory that 10 per cent of the funds in the local bodies are earmarked for Haritha Haram.

The Mission Bhagiratha scheme helped to streamline the drinking water system which was in the state of collapse. Except Telangana, there is no other state in the country which is supplying drinking water to every household, he said.

KCR said several national television channels telecast programmes on the achievements and growth registered in Telangana.

“Many states were surprised and they started calling on phone and enquired about the development in the new state . We achieved unprecedented growth in a short time,” he said.

The chief minister said that the demand to introduce Telangana schemes like round the clock power supply and free power to agriculture to farming is growing in other states.

People from Raichur in Karnataka are demanding their BJP MLA to implement Telangana schemes in their constituency or merge their Assembly constituency with Telangana.

KCR expressed happiness over Palle Pragati and Pattana Pragati programmes of Telangana getting nationwide applause.

The programmes are aimed at improving the quality of life in rural and urban areas respectively. It is also a proud moment that under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Telangana villages clinched 10 out of 10 awards in the first phase and 19 Telangana out of 20 in the second round, he said.