Harish Rao slams Centre over Gujarat bridge collapse

BRS leaders T Harish Rao and K Kavitha criticised the BJP government for its silence on repeated infrastructure failures in BJP-ruled States, including the recent Gujarat bridge collapse. They accused the Centre of politicising tragedies in opposition States while ignoring similar failures elsewhere

Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao hit out at the BJP government at the Centre following the collapse of the Gambhira bridge over the Mahisagar river in Vadodara, Gujarat, which claimed multiple lives. While extending condolences to the victims, he said the Centre was turning a blind eye to repeated infrastructure failures in BJP-ruled States.

“Bridge collapses in BJP-ruled States like Gujarat, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh have become routine. Yet, there is no inquiry or accountability,” he said.

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Harish Rao contrasted this with the political uproar created by the BJP over the Medigadda barrage incident in Telangana, where the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) was rushed in just before the elections to politicise it. He questioned the silence over the collapse of the diaphragm wall and cofferdam of the Polavaram project, built under NDSA’s supervision in Andhra Pradesh.

“The same silence prevailed when the SLBC tunnel, Sunkishala retaining wall, or Wattem pump house collapsed under the current Congress regime in Telangana. The BJP as well as the NDSA made no intervention, exposing their double standards. They remain silent on accidents in friendly States but weaponise them for politics in States ruled by political opponents,” he added.

Meanwhile, BRS MLC K Kavitha termed the Gujarat bridge collapse yet another reminder that the BJP’s “double engine sarkar” was failing to guarantee people’s lives. She questioned the Centre’s silence, recalling the 2022 Morbi bridge tragedy, which killed over 140 people. She demanded equal accountability across States and urged the Centre to stop politicising tragedies and instead focus on ensuring quality construction and safety of lives.