BRS-BJP Secret Pact is like Veena-Vani bond-CM Revanth Reddy

Karimnagar: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday alleged that the BJP and BRS were maintaining a “Fevicol bond” to protect each other’s interests and accused the BJP-led Centre of deliberately ignoring the Telangana government’s requests for approval of key projects, including national project status to the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme (PRLIS), funds for the Musi development project and Metro Rail Phase-II.

Addressing a public meeting at Choppadandi in Karimnagar district, the Chief Minister accused the BJP and BRS with collusive politics, alleging that both parties were shielding corruption cases. He referred to what he described as a “Veena–Vani bond” between the two parties, likening them to the 22-year-old conjoined twins of Hyderabad.

He reiterated allegations that the BRS had transferred its vote bank to the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections to seek protection from Central agencies and accused the Centre of denying funds for Metro Rail, the Music Riverfront and Future City projects. He challenged opposition leaders to a face-off at LB Stadium in Hyderabad to debate the government’s performance.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remark that Kaleshwaram had become an “ATM” for Chandrashekar Rao, Revanth Reddy asked why no inquiry had been ordered so far.

He said Modi for not acceding to the state’s request for a CBI inquiry into the Kaleshwaram project and for not ordering further investigation into the Formula E race case. He said the Telangana Assembly had passed a resolution seeking a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram issue and questioned why no action had been taken even after six months.

He said the state government had also written to the Centre seeking permission to proceed against an IAS officer in the Formula E case, but there had been no response.

If the BJP and BRS had no understanding, Revanth Reddy dared the Centre to arrest Chandrashekar Rao and former irrigation minister T Harish Rao in the Kaleshwaram scam, and former municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao in the Formula E race case. He also demanded a CBI probe into the cases.

He challenged Union ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar to ensure that the Centre ordered a CBI probe and arrested BRS leaders. He said they should focus on securing Central funds for Karimnagar municipality instead of criticising the state government.

Revanth Reddy also criticised BJP president Nitin Nabin for not raising the issue of national project status for the Palamuru project during his visit to Mahbubnagar on Wednesday. He said the Prime Minister had also promised national status to the project. He alleged that BJP leaders had also remained silent on Metro Phase-II, the Kaleshwaram investigation and funds for the Musi project.

Referring to the formation of Telangana, he recalled that Sonia Gandhi had promised statehood from Karimnagar and fulfilled it despite political challenges. He accused the BRS of failing to develop the state during its decade-long rule.

The Chief Minister challenged the BJP and BRS to a public debate on development during 10 years of BRS rule, 12 years of BJP rule at the Centre and two years of the Congress government in Telangana. He alleged that the BRS had tacitly helped the BJP win eight Lok Sabha seats in the state.

He announced plans to develop temples along the Godavari river basin from Basara to Bhadrachalam ahead of the 2025 Godavari Pushkaralu, stating that the government was ready to spend up to `4,000 crore. Eco-tourism projects would also be taken up in the region, he said.

Calling for a strong mandate for the Congress in the upcoming municipal elections, Revanth Reddy said the party would rule the state for another eight years. He announced proposals for an outer ring road for Karimnagar, development of Warangal and Karimnagar as twin cities, establishment of a dump yard between them and power generation facilities.