Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao called upon people to give a “holiday” to the Congress govt in Telangana, accusing it of failing to fulfil its election promises while prioritising the proposed Musi riverfront development project estimated at ₹1.5 lakh crore.Questioning the rationale behind the Musi beautification project at a time when crops were drying up due to a shortage of irrigation water and power cuts, KTR demanded that the project be stopped and the money diverted towards farmers’ drought relief, irrigation, drinking water, electricity supply and public welfare.“While farmers are struggling to save their crops, the government is planning to spend ₹1.5 lakh crore on Musi beautification without even a detailed project report (DPR),” he alleged. He also accused the state govt of pursuing the project for commissions, a charge that has not been independently established.The BRS leader questioned the decision to prioritise the Musi project when drinking water shortages and drought conditions were affecting several parts of the state. He alleged that the govt was pursuing the project without adequate public consultation or a detailed project report and raised concerns over the proposed financing through the Asian Development Bank.He also alleged that people affected by the project were not given sufficient opportunities to express their views during public hearings. The BRS, he said, would continue to oppose the project and stand by the affected families.“The Congress had effectively declared a holiday for its 420 promises, six guarantees, crop cultivation, power supply, pay revision for employees and retirement benefits. He alleged that farmers were being forced to submit self-declarations stating that they would protect their own crops, despite the Congress having announced a farmers’ declaration before the elections,’ he said.He demanded the immediate release of pending Rythu Bandhu funds, completion of irrigation projects and steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply to farmers and industries.Accusing the Revanth Reddy govt of failing to address the agrarian crisis, KTR said farmers were relying on generators and water tankers to save their crops. He criticised the govt for failing to provide adequate assistance through schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima.KTR said power cuts were affecting industrial activity and alleged that the government had failed to maintain a reliable electricity supply. “If there is Congress, there is no power; if there is power, there is no Congress,” he remarked.‘Global Summit is a Goebbels Summit’KTR also criticised the state govt’s Telangana Rising Invest Global Summit, describing it as a “Goebbels Summit”. He questioned the need for an expensive promotional event when farmers were struggling with drought and industries were facing power shortages.He alleged that the govt was spending heavily on publicity, advertisements and promotional displays without adequately demonstrating the investments and jobs generated by its initiatives.Claiming that the previous BRS govt had attracted investments worth lakhs of crores of rupees over ten years without organising such global summits, KTR demanded a white paper on the Congress govt’s foreign visits, memorandums of understanding, actual investments received and jobs created.He also alleged that the state’s IT employment figures had declined under the Congress govt and called for the publication of detailed figures to substantiate the govt’s claims on investment and employment.ends/
