Alleges ex-CM treated project as ATM
Adilabad: BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao on Wednesday demanded a CBI inquiry into the Kaleshwaram project, citing the P.C. Ghose Commission report. He alleged that former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s family treated Kaleshwaram as an ATM, wasting thousands of crores of public funds.
Ramchander Rao accused Chandrashekar Rao and his relatives of corrupt practices during the project’s construction and urged the state government to act against all political leaders and contractors involved. Speaking to the media in Kagaznagar, he said the BJP is in dialogue with disillusioned BRS and Congress representatives but is not pressuring anyone to defect. He emphasised that ongoing legal proceedings, such as the Moinabad farmhouse case, should run their course without undue influence.
He also questioned why the Congress government has not taken action against ministers, party leaders, and contractors implicated in the Kaleshwaram corruption, even after arrests were made. He warned that both Congress and BRS risk deceiving the public by downplaying the issue.
Ramchander Rao called on the state government to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for a barrage on the Pranahita River at Thummidihatti and submit it to the Central government under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Laghu Sinchayee Yojana. He said the barrage would irrigate 2.5 lakh acres and supply drinking water to the region. The BJP pledged full support for the project if approved.
Criticising Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for frequent trips to Delhi, Ramchander Rao argued that state administration suffers in his absence and suggested he could use phone or video conferencing instead. He also stated that Muslims, who make up 10 per cent of the population, should not be included in the 42 per cent BC reservation quota.
He asserted that voters desire a “double-engine” government and see the BJP as the viable alternative. At a party meeting in Asifabad, he urged workers to secure BJP victories in the upcoming local-body elections. Sirpur (T) MLA Palvai Harish Babu added that he would continue to press for the cancellation of GO 49, alleging it was held in abeyance due to impending local-body polls.
Senior BJP leaders, district president Dhoni Srishailam, Dr Srinivas, Konga Satyanarayana, Kotnak Vijay, Arigela Nageshwar Rao, Koyyala Hemaji, Krishna Kumari, and others, were present at the event.
