Telangana: KTR cites ruling party MLAs' corruption charges as sign of governance failure

Hyderabad, August 15: K.T. Rama Rao, working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), said on Saturday that the extent of corruption and irregularities in Telangana is now being highlighted not only by opposition parties but also by legislators from the ruling Congress party. Speaking to media after Independence Day celebrations at the BRS party office, he said he fully agreed with the remarks made by Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy.

Mr. Rao said that a public representative from the ruling party being compelled to make allegations of corruption against the government and its leadership demonstrates how badly governance has deteriorated in the state. For a long time, the Congress government dismissed opposition allegations as political criticism, he noted. However, with ruling party MLAs now raising such issues publicly, the seriousness of the situation cannot be ignored, he added.

Alleging that Telangana has been turned into an ATM for the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Mr. Rao claimed that the Telangana Congress has been funding the AICC and its leadership. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visits to the state, had also made similar allegations.

Questioning the Centre's silence on the alleged large-scale corruption in Telangana, Mr. Rao said that merely making accusations during elections or on political platforms serves no purpose. He demanded that if there is substance in the allegations, central investigating agencies should conduct an impartial investigation and bring out the facts. Referring to the Enforcement Directorate's searches against Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy in the past, he said there is no clarity on what action was taken subsequently or the current stage of the investigation. Mr. Rao urged central agencies to function honestly and transparently, rather than for political purposes.

The BRS leader also criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, alleging that his focus is on securing lands for his siblings, relatives, and followers. He said that instead of claiming to work 18 hours a day for the state, the Chief Minister's efforts should reflect in benefits reaching various sections of people and in the continuation of existing welfare schemes.

Responding to developments concerning NALSAR students, Mr. Rao said that when young people feel their dignity or self-respect has been attacked in a democracy, they naturally raise their voices and resist. He expressed support for the students for standing courageously for their rights and dignity.