KTR slams Kishan Reddy over Singareni tenders, calls out BJP-Congress tacit understanding

BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused Union Coal Minister Kishan Reddy of abdicating responsibility by saying a CBI probe into SCCL irregularities would proceed only if the Telangana government requested it. Rama Rao alleged the site visit certificate rule facilitates backdoor tender allotments and warned of historic accountability

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday criticised Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy over his response to the irregularities exposed by BRS in Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) tenders under the Congress government. He said Reddy was abdicating his constitutional and moral responsibility.

Reacting to Kishan Reddy’s statement that the Centre would consider a CBI probe only if the Telangana government itself sought such an inquiry, Rama Rao termed the stand illogical and bankrupt. He questioned whether a government accused of wrongdoing could be expected to seek an investigation against itself. “Can a robber walk into a police station and ask for an inquiry against himself?” he asked, calling the argument contrary to common sense.

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The BRS working president felt that it was absurd to suggest that a Chief Minister accused of facilitating illegal tender allotments to his own brother-in-law would seek a CBI inquiry into the same issue. He argued that such expectations only raised doubts about the seriousness of both the Centre and the State government in addressing corruption.

Questioning the intent of the BJP leadership, Rama Rao asked whether the Union Minister’s stand stemmed from ignorance or a tacit understanding between the BJP and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. He sought clarity on whether political considerations were being placed above the interests of Telangana.

Rama Rao also flagged the controversial ‘site visit certificate’ rule, describing it as unprecedented elsewhere in the country and alleging that it was introduced to facilitate backdoor allotment of tenders to favoured entities. Despite widespread criticism, he said the Union Coal Minister’s silence was unacceptable, particularly when the Centre holds a 49 per cent stake in SCCL.

He stated that the Centre’s inaction in the face of large-scale irregularities amounted to throttling the public sector company. “History will not forgive the Union government for remaining a mute spectator to such corruption,” he warned.

Drawing a contrast with the previous BRS regime, Rama Rao said tenders under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao were finalised at up to 20 per cent below estimates, ensuring savings and efficiency. He said in contrast, the Congress government cancelled those tenders and was now awarding contracts nearly 10 per cent above estimates, causing financial damage to SCCL.

Stating that Singareni had been turned from a profitable enterprise into a den of scams within two years of Congress rule, he said unrest among workers reflected deep anger over attempts to push the company into losses, paving the way for privatisation. He asserted that the BRS would stand with Singareni workers until accountability was fixed and justice delivered.