Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and former Irrigation minister T Harish Rao strongly criticised Union Minister CR Patil over his remarks on the Kaleshwaram project, calling them “highly objectionable.”
He said Patil’s comments closely resemble those made by chief minister Revanth Reddy.
On Rs 1 L Cr funds misappropriation allegation
Harish Rao termed it “laughable” that the Union Minister alleged that Rs 1 lakh crore had been misappropriated in the Kaleshwaram project, pointing out that all necessary clearances for the project were granted by the central government itself.
He described this as evidence of an inseparable nexus between the BJP and Congress parties.
Questioning the criticism of the project, he asked: “If the Kaleshwaram project has failed, where did the 25 TMC of water in Mallannasagar come from?”
Speaking to the media at the Assembly Media Hall on Tuesday, March 31,Harish Rao said that both the Centre’s Economic Survey and the budget figures presented by State Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stand as proof of the success of the Kaleshwaram project.
He invited leaders from Congress and the BJP to visit and witness the flowing waters and irrigated fields.
On Assembly sessions
He further criticised the recently concluded Assembly sessions, stating they ended without direction and left the public disappointed.
“People had expected clarity on the six guarantees and solutions to pressing public issues, but the government failed to address them,” he said.
Harish Rao noted that BRS had submitted notices seeking short discussions on 19 public issues, but the government did not take up even a single topic. He also accused chief minister Revanth Reddy of failing to maintain the dignity expected of a House leader and of disregarding legislative norms.
He alleged that the Assembly session was hastily concluded on March 30 to facilitate campaigning for the Kerala elections, questioning whether public issues in Telangana were less important than election campaigning elsewhere.
On allegations against Ponguleti
He also accused the Congress government of engaging in diversionary politics to shift attention from allegations of illegal mining and land encroachment attempts involving minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.
Harish Rao concluded by stating that BRS would continue its fight against what he called an “anti-people government.”
