BRS steps up fight against Banakacherla project as KCR takes lead amid agrarian crisis in Telangana
BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao has launched a state-wide campaign against the Congress over the Banakacherla project, agrarian distress, and irrigation failures. The party hopes to turn upcoming elections into a referendum on Telangana’s water rights and farmer welfare
Hyderabad: With party president and Leader of Opposition K Chandrashekhar Rao taking up the issue of Banakacherla project personally, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has stepped up its offensive against the Congress government. The party will mount a full-scale campaign against the Congress government’s failures to safeguard Telangana’s interests.
Calling the project a permanent blow to Telangana’s share in Krishna River waters, the BRS chief had on Tuesday called for intensified field-level agitations to oppose the Banakacherla lift irrigation project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government. He had also directed all affiliated organisations including the BRS Vidyarthi (BRSV), TBGKS, trade unions, youth and women wings, to mobilise public opposition through field-level protests and awareness campaigns.
The BRSV has already hit the ground, linking the Banakacherla issue with the State’s larger irrigation concerns and the Congress government’s failure to operationalise the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.
“The party has decided to adopt a multi-front fight with the ruling Congress on agrarian crisis, BC reservations and the Banakacherla project. All the party-affiliated organisations will be involved to intensify the fight,” a top party functionary told ‘Telangana Today’.
The BRS leadership has criticised the Revanth Reddy government for abdicating its responsibility towards farmers. Acute irrigation water shortage, compounded by a crippling urea crisis during peak Vanakalam (Kharif) season, have left farmers in distress. The BRS is planning to join forces with farmers’ organisations to confront the Congress for watching silently as Telangana’s agrarian lifelines dry up.
Amid mounting pressure and upcoming local body elections, the Congress has sought to shift the narrative by focusing on delay in approval of BC reservation Bills by the Centre. However, political observers view this as a calculated move to divert attention from the worsening farm crisis and rural distress.
The BRS has for long asserted itself as the only party standing by Telangana’s farmers. Chandrashekhar Rao’s decision to lead the campaign against the Banakacherla project is expected to energise the party’s grassroots network. With farmers growing restless and rural anger intensifying, the BRS hopes to turn the elections into a referendum on irrigation, agrarian support and the State’s rightful share of water among other issues, which the Congress appears to have failed to address meaningfully.
