KTR charges Congress of misusing Rs 300 cr of Telangana Govt funds for Maharashtra poll campaign

Delhi: In a blistering attack, BRS working president KT Rama Rao slammed Congress Lok Sabha leader Rahul Gandhi and his party for misleading the people of Maharashtra with false claims of implementing electoral promises in Telangana. Further, he said, about Rs 300 crore from the Telangana exchequer was misused to place advertisements in newspapers of Maharashtra, with false claims of achievements in the State.

“The Congress government does not have funds to implement its electoral promises in Telangana, but has money to conduct a false campaign of fulfilling them for Maharashtra polls,” he said, adding that Rahul Gandhi is spreading lies, claiming that Congress implemented schemes in Telangana, which were never fulfilled.

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Speaking to mediapersons in Delhi on Tueday, Rama Rao pointed out that key promises made by Congress in Telangana, such as the farmer loan waiver and Rythu Bharosa, remain incomplete. He stated that the claims of Rs 2,500 monthly assistance being paid to women, enhanced social security pensions to the elderly and others, were blatant lies.

“They talk about people’s welfare, but their priorities lie in siphoning off Telangana’s money to fund their Maharashtra election propaganda,” he added.

The BRS working president urged the Election Commission of India to strengthen surveillance on the Telangana-Maharashtra border to prevent the illegal flow of money. He also urged Maharashtra voters to critically examine these claims and verify them with Telangana residents. He suggested them to cast their votes to a regional party which serves the interests of their State. “Congress failed to deliver in Telangana. Why should Maharashtra believe their hollow promises?” he questioned.

Taking aim at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments on MLA defections, Rama Rao accused Congress of pioneering the culture of political horse-trading. “Congress is crying foul about MLAs being bought like goats, but their party is the original architect of defections,” he said, adding that Telangana’s Congress government lured around 10 opposition MLAs, undermining democratic integrity.

The former Minister did not spare Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, stating that the latter misused his position to award lucrative government contracts to his son’s company, Raghava Constructions. He questioned the BJP’s silence over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the properties of the Minister.

“Why is BJP and ED silent? What deals are being made behind closed doors?” he asked.

On Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s threats to arrest him, Rama Rao declared that he was ready to face any consequences, if he had done anything wrong. He asserted that he is not afraid of any investigation. “File any case, deploy any agency—I am ready to face it. But can Ponguleti and Revanth Reddy say the same?” he asked.

Responding to a question on the unrest in Kodangal, the BRS working president accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of forcibly acquiring land for his son-in-law’s pharma company, resulting in widespread protests. He condemned the arrest of the villagers, to silence the protests.

“Kodangal residents are jailed for opposing these illegal acquisitions. This government has betrayed its people for corporate greed. When the district collector himself declared that there was no attack on him, what is the purpose of these arrests,” he said.