Harish Rao dubs BJP leaders as ‘traitors’

Slams Bandi Sanjay for writing to Centre seeking a TS-specific Act to stall irrigation projects

Hyderabad: Finance Minister T Harish Rao launched a scathing attack against the BJP State leadership, accusing it of not only sabotaging irrigation projects in the State but also going to the extent of exerting pressure on the Union government to bring in a Telangana-specific Act to stall these projects.

“They wear patriotism on their sleeves, but when it comes to Telangana State, they work against the interests of the very people who sent them to Parliament,” the Minister said, describing them as traitors of Telangana.

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Harish said BJP State president Bandi Sanjay Kumar wrote to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar not to issue environmental clearances for Telangana projects till the State government submits all the permissions given by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakthi and the Central Water Commission. “Sanjay even asked the Union Minister to bring in a new law specifically to target Telangana, if needed,” he said.

Replying on the budget demands for the Irrigation Department in the Assembly here, the Minister said the State government had taken up all the irrigation projects duly following the procedures, including permissions from all the Central authorities concerned. “It is a laborious process which we pursue with all the Central authorities simultaneously and if one has to wait for clearances from a specific authority before necessary permissions are issued, all the projects will be caught in an endless loop,” he pointed out.

“Each irrigation project requires at least 16 different permissions from the CWC. But if Bandi Sanjay wants the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests not to issue any clearances to the State irrigation projects before the CWC issues necessary permissions, the irrigation projects in the State will be delayed further. Though the neighbouring States are taking up projects without even seeking permissions from the authorities concerned and denting the benefits of Telangana, the BJP leaders, who got their new positions due to the people of Telangana, are not even speaking about these issues,” he said.

The Minister advised the BJP leaders that the elected representatives should first serve the people who elected them and work within the democratic system. “They must remember that these positions are not permanent and it is the love of people which is permanent. The BJP leaders are giving priority to their political interests rather than people’s interests. It is painful to see such leaders whose actions are detrimental to the interests of the State. They constantly talk about patriotism, but where is their love for the State and its people who elected them? They will go to any length for their own selfish political needs,” he said.

Harish reminded that the separate State was achieved after a lot of struggle and the TRS government would ensure that people reap its benefits. He recalled that though some people tried to obstruct the irrigation projects by filing cases in courts and the National Green Tribunal, the State government had emerged victorious and completed them.

“If you are capable of ensuring national project status, we welcome it, but if you can’t, at least support the endeavours of the State government by using your influence and get necessary permissions. People, especially farmers, will not forgive any attempt to obstruct irrigation projects in the State,” he added.

In response, BJP MLA M Raghunandan Rao claimed that the Centre approves schemes for different States as per local conditions. He reminded that the BJP supported the creation of Telangana State and claimed that several leaders from the party fought for statehood. He said Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao should have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sanction funds for Mission Bhagiratha during the latter’s visit to Gajwel to launch the scheme.

Irked over the arguments of the BJP legislator, Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao dared the BJP leaders to fight for the rights of the State and demand the Centre to fulfil its promises made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. He pointed out that though NITI Aayog had recommended sanction of special grant to the State for implementing Mission Bhagiratha, the Centre has not responded to date.

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