BJP stages protest at Singareni office against funding for Messi football event
BJP leaders staged a protest at the SCCL office in Hyderabad, alleging that the State government was diverting Rs 100 crore for an exhibition match featuring CM Revanth Reddy and Lionel Messi. They accused the government of misusing public funds and neglecting SCCL workers
Published Date - 13 December 2025, 12:30 AM
Hyderabad: BJP State unit staged a protest at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) office here on Friday opposing Rs 100 crore funding for the exhibition football match involving Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and star player Lionel Messi.
BJP MLA from Nirmal Aleti Maheshwar Reddy said the State government was funding the expenditure for this match through different departments. The Chief Minister’s team was being called “Singareni RR team” even as SCCL employees were struggling due to lack of basic amenities, he charged.
“For a five minutes of exhibition match, the State government is spending Rs 100 crore. This is public money and it is being misused for Revanth Reddy’s fantasy,” Maheshwar Reddy slammed, adding that Uppal cricket stadium was being changed into a football stadium.