KCR to lead people’s movement against neglect of Kaleshwaram, Palamuru-Rangareddy projects

BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao will spearhead a people’s movement against the Congress government after the Assembly session, accusing it of neglecting the Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Rangareddy irrigation projects. At a crucial Legislature Party meeting, the BRS resolved to adopt an aggressive floor strategy on public issues.

Hyderabad: BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao will lead a people’s movement against the Congress government’s alleged neglect of the Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Schemes after the Assembly session. The decision was taken at a crucial BRS Legislature Party meeting chaired by him at his Erravelli residence on Sunday, on the eve of the Assembly and Legislative Council sessions.

The party resolved to adopt an aggressive floor strategy on a range of public issues, including pending fee reimbursement, farmers’ problems, power supply, 22(A) prohibited lands, loan waiver, GO 97 on polytechnic colleges, Singareni Collieries, employees’ demands and other issues.

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During the meeting, Chandrashekhar Rao proposed taking the fight against the Congress government’s alleged neglect of key irrigation projects directly to the people after the session. He found the government’s refusal to operate Kaleshwaram pumps despite the availability of water as a major issue affecting farmers. He will personally lead the proposed mass mobilisation, putting irrigation at the centre of the BRS’s wider public campaign.

The BRSLP also discussed the Palamuru-Rangareddy project, which was about 80 per cent complete and could bring 60 TMCft of water with the completion of a small remaining component.

The meeting also discussed Chandrashekhar Rao’s participation in the Assembly. He sought the legislators’ views on whether he should attend the session merely to engage in abusive political rhetoric with the ruling Congress. He reportedly said the Chief Minister was using abusive language and challenging him to come to the Assembly for a debate, questioning whether he should engage with those who used foul language and repeatedly wished for his death.

The BRS MLAs and MLCs unanimously decided that he need not attend the House, citing the alleged unparliamentary and abusive language used by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other Congress leaders. They cited former Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers MG Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers NT Rama Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu as examples of leaders who had refrained from Assembly proceedings over disrespectful treatment. Instead, the BRSLP decided to raise people’s issues effectively in the Legislature while Chandrashekhar Rao focused on taking the fight directly to the people.

The party also rejected the demand for Chandrashekhar Rao’s resignation, arguing that the Congress government should first account for its election promises, including the six guarantees and loan waiver. BRS Legislature Party deputy leader Harish Rao said the demand was a diversionary tactic and that the Chief Minister should resign for allegedly reneging on the loan waiver and failing to implement the Six Guarantees.

He also rejected Revanth Reddy’s remarks over expenditure for Chandrashekhar Rao’s security, pointing to security provided to former Chief Ministers in neighbouring States. “Before speaking about KCR, Revanth Reddy must explain why the State government has spent Rs 40 crore and provided four gunmen to his brother Kondal Reddy who is not even a ward member,” he demanded.

The BRS will demand that the Assembly function for at least a month to enable comprehensive discussion on public issues. It will press the demand before the Business Advisory Committee and stage protests inside the House if adequate time is not provided. The party will particularly raise pending fee reimbursement affecting 30 lakh students and disrupt proceedings, if necessary, until the issue is addressed.

The party will also raise alleged agricultural power cuts, incomplete loan waiver and the inclusion of agricultural lands in the 22(A) prohibited list. Employees’ issues, including Pay Revision Commission and Dearness Allowance demands and alleged failures in the Employees Health Scheme, will also be taken up. The party will demand for repeal of GO 97 concerning Polytechnic students and raise alleged irregularities in Singareni Collieries.