BRS, TBGKS demand cancellation of site-visit rule; stage stir at SCCL head office in Kothagudem

BRS and TBGKS staged a major protest at SCCL head office in Kothagudem, demanding cancellation of the controversial site visit certificate policy and re-tenders for coal blocks. Leaders alleged the Congress government was favouring cronies, and demanded a CBI probe into tender irregularities

Kothagudem: A massive protest was staged in front of SCCL head office in Kothagudem on Wednesday under the aegis of TBGKS demanding the cancellation of the site visit certificate policy introduced by the Congress government to approve tenders in the company.

MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, BRS district president Rega Kantha Rao and former minister Vanama Venkateswara Rao accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka of introducing the site visit policy to benefit their relatives and cronies by awarding tenders in advance.

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They raised slogans against the Congress government opposing its increased interference in Singareni, demanding all tenders issued under the site visit policy cancelled, and calling for re-tenders for Naini block and the remaining seven blocks as well.

The BRS leaders stated that the KCR government protected Singareni from privatisation, but the Congress government, within two years of coming to power, was using Singareni’s funds as an ATM for its own purposes.

MP Ravichandra stated that the people were observing the anti-people policies of the Congress government, which was engaging in diversion politics by harassing Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao, who questioned the illegal tenders in Singareni, under the guise of SIT.

The leaders questioned how the Central government, which holds a 49 per cent stake in Singareni, agreed to the site visit policy. They demanded a CBI inquiry into the tender scam and warned of a massive agitation if the accused were not punished.

Later, when the leaders tried to enter the office to submit a memorandum to the Singareni officials, they were stopped by police. Then TBGKS chief general secretary Kapu Krishna submitted the memorandum at Singareni Talli logo in front of the head office.

Krishna demanded that the SCCL Medical Board convene a meeting as it was done in the past, to pay profit share and Deepavali bonus to retired employees unconditionally. He also wanted the government to clear Rs 48,000 crore funds due to SCCL immediately

Former municipal chairperson Kapu Seethalakshmi, municipal councilors, TBGKS and BRS leaders and activists from Sathupalli, and Manuguru areas participated in the protest.