Congress-BJP spar through open letters over Telangana promises and Metro approvals

Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao wrote an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi over alleged unfulfilled Congress poll promises. The move came after Revanth Reddy's letter seeking Metro Phase II approvals

Hyderabad: After days of trading barbs, the Congress and BJP in Telangana have taken their political battle to open letters, with each side attempting to put the other on the defensive.

On Saturday, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy wrote to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy seeking his intervention to secure an appointment with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding pending Metro Phase II approvals and IRFC funding.

---

In retaliation, Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao addressed an open letter to the Chief Minister seeking an appointment with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the State government’s unfulfilled poll promises.

In his letter, Rao said the people of Telangana had voted for the Congress in the 2023 Assembly elections based on guarantees personally made by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. He alleged that several key promises made to women, farmers, students, youth, senior citizens, agricultural labourers and poor families were yet to be fulfilled.

According to Rao, women were still waiting for the promised monthly assistance of Rs 2,500, while farmers had not received Rs 15,000 per acre under the Rythu Bharosa scheme. Tenant farmers, agricultural labourers and beneficiaries awaiting Indiramma Indlu houses also remained disappointed, he said.

Referring to students and unemployed youth, Rao said the promised Rs 5 lakh assistance under the Vidya Bharosa scheme had not been implemented. He added that students continued to face delays in fee reimbursement, while unemployed youth were still waiting for the promised monthly unemployment allowance of Rs 4,000.

He also said senior citizens had not received the promised pension of Rs 4,000 a month. College students were yet to receive the promised scooters, while the State government had also failed to announce a job calendar, he alleged.

“Rahul Gandhi ji may also have forgotten these promises as he has been busy visiting foreign countries and weaving false narratives against Modi ji,” Rao said in the letter. He urged the Chief Minister to facilitate an appointment with Rahul Gandhi so that the concerns of Telangana’s people could be conveyed to him directly.