Harish Rao finds fault with Congress government over false claims of interest-free loans

Calling out Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka’s recent claim in Mancherial that interest-free loans worth Rs.21,000 crore were disbursed to women, Harish Rao termed it a publicity stunt. "As per GO 27, interest-free loans are applicable only up to Rs 5 lakh. Women are still paying interest on the remaining Rs.15 lakh," he said.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao came down heavily on the Congress government for misleading women with hollow promises and inflated claims about interest-free loans.

Calling out Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka’s recent claim in Mancherial that interest-free loans worth Rs.21,000 crore were disbursed to women, Harish Rao termed it a publicity stunt. “As per GO 27, interest-free loans are applicable only up to Rs 5 lakh. Women are still paying interest on the remaining Rs.15 lakh,” he said.

---

He demanded for an immediate release of a government order, if loans up to Rs.20 lakh were indeed interest-free. He warned that failing to do so would expose the Congress’s deceit. “If this is not corrected, women will teach Congress a lesson,” he cautioned.

The BRS MLA stated that the same loan insurance and accident insurance cheques were handed out twice by the Chief Minister, initially in Warangal in November last year and again in Hyderabad (March 2025)—but none were cleared yet.

Harish Rao also slammed the government’s mishandling of uniform stitching charges for students, questioning how Rs.75 would suffice. While the Congress increased uniform stitching charges from Rs.50 to Rs.75, the increased amount is yet to reach the beneficiaries.

“Even the additional Rs.25 has not reached women,” he said, demanding the amount be increased to Rs.150.

The former Minister also expressed concern over the mismanagement of Srinidhi, the lending arm for self-help groups, where 40 per cent of loans have turned into non performing assets (NPAs). He urged the government to appoint an IAS officer to salvage the issue.

“Revanth Reddy promised to make women millionaires. Today, they are left with nothing but broken promises and hardship,” he added.