Rahul Gandhi actual force behind demolitions for Musi River project, says KTR
"Rahul Gandhi is the true force behind the demolition of homes in Hyderabad, bulldozing the houses of the poor," he remarked during an informal media interaction at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday.
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday held Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responsible for the ongoing demolition of houses for the Musi Riverfront Development Project, stating that the Congress leader gave his nod for the project in exchange for moneybags, ignoring public welfare. The project was being implemented under the guise of “beautification,” but the real motive was “Musi lootification’, he said.
“Rahul Gandhi is the real force behind the demolition of homes in Hyderabad, driving a bulldozer over the houses of the poor for money bags,” Rama Rao said during an informal interaction with the media at Telangana Bhavan.
Stating that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was merely the face of the project, while Rahul Gandhi was running the show, he said Gandhi, who promised to come whenever anyone from Telangana called, was nowhere to be found while the poor were suffering.
Rama Rao questioned the Congress leadership’s motives and vowed to expose the involvement of the Congress leadership in corrupt practices soon. He said he was also aware of the contractor to whom the Congress planned to award the mutli-crore Musi Riverfront Development Project. He also pointed out the inflated expenditure for the project was only meant to fill the coffers of the Congress leadership. “This is a Rs.16,000 crore project, but the Congress is spending Rs.1.5 lakh crore. Where is the extra money going?” he asked.
The former Minister also questioned the silence of BJP leaders on the issue, stating that the project had received approval from the Governor under pressure from the Centre. “Why is the BJP silent on this? The Governor gave permission for the ordinance under pressure from the Centre. This is a joint scam by the Congress and BJP,” he said, demanding that the State government convene a special assembly session to discuss the matter in detail.
Rama Rao said the Congress was spreading misinformation about the project’s benefits, particularly regarding job creation. “The Congress is claiming that the Musi project will create lakhs of jobs. Where are these jobs coming from? In reality, 35 lakh people have lost their jobs due to faulty policies like HYDRAA and increased taxes,” he said, also questioning the environmental and social impact of the project, stating that there was no proper study or survey to assess the same.
“There is no clear plan. No survey, no report, no benefits outlined. Yet this government is ready to spend lakhs of crores while displacing thousands of poor families,” he remarked.
Rama Rao did not spare the Congress Ministers, charging them with ignorance and complicity. He said Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy lacked any knowledge about the Musi Riverfront project and its impact. “If Venkat Reddy has the courage, he should visit the affected areas and explain about the project to the people. Let him see how the people react,” he said, adding that the previous BRS government constructed multiple sewerage treatment plants (STPs) for treating the sewerage water being discharged into the Musi River.
Responding to a question, the BRS working president rubbished allegations made by Minister Konda Surekha, stating that the BRS was not responsible for the online trolling against her on social media. Calling out the Congress leader for her hypocrisy, he said Congress leaders were relentlessly targeting him and his party members on social media. He reminded that she had accused him of tapping phones of some actresses, and pointed out that she herself made abusive comments about personal lives of women, causing emotional trauma on families.
