Harish Rao hits out at Kishan Reddy over Kaleshwaram row

BRS deputy leader T Harish Rao launched a scathing attack on Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, accusing him of betraying Telangana and distorting facts about the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme in Parliament. Rao alleged that Reddy insulted Telangana’s self-respect by echoing Congress propaganda and highlighted that the Centre had earlier praised the project.

Hyderabad: BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao criticised the Union Minister G Kishan Reddy for betraying Telangana and distorting facts in Parliament over the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.

He said the Union Minister, who ran away from resigning to his MLA post during Telangana statehood movement, had once again betrayed the State and its people rather than speaking to protect its interests.

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Reacting to Kishan Reddy’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Harish Rao said Kishan Reddy insulted Telangana’s self-respect and interests by parroting the false propaganda of the ruling Congress against the project.

Hinting at a tacit understanding between the Congress and the BJP, he recalled that the Central government including Union Ministers and Central Water Commission authorities, praised the Kaleshwaram project earlier.

“Then why this sudden reversal for political gain?” he asked.

The former Irrigation Minister stated that Kaleshwaram was the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation scheme, which continues to serve its purpose despite the Congress government’s neglect. He asserted that water was still being supplied to farmlands despite peak summer conditions and challenged the Union Minister to visit the project sites.

Citing the Union government’s own Economic Survey, he pointed to the sharp increase in Telangana’s cultivable land from 1.31 crore acres in 2014 to 2.2 crore acres in 2023, which was attributed to initiatives like Kaleshwaram and Mission Kakatiya under the leadership of K Chandrashekhar Rao.

Harish Rao took exception to Kishan Reddy’s criticism of public spending on the project, arguing that infrastructure development is routinely funded through public resources.

“Does the BJP build national highways with its funds or spends from the government treasury?” he asked, calling the remarks illogical.

The BRS leader accused the BJP of betraying Telangana by transferring seven mandals to Andhra Pradesh through an ordinance at first and an amendment by the BJP government later. He asserted that the merger of mandals was not part of the original Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

“Kishan Reddy’s claim is not just inaccurate, but is a betrayal. The BJP amended the Act and handed over the mandals to AP. Today, he is trying to spread false propaganda in the Parliament,” Harish Rao said, recalling that protests were held in Telangana at the time to oppose the move.

He said the Union Minister failed to represent Telangana’s interests in Parliament and instead, was indulging in political rhetoric.

“When Telangana’s concerns were raised, you chose to attack rather than support,” he said, adding that such conduct undermined the State’s voice at the national level.