Rahul Misleading People in Maharashtra Using Telangana Funds: KTR
Hyderabad: BRS party working president KTR on Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of deceiving the people of Maharashtra with unfulfilled promises, claiming that Telangana’s State government funds, totalling Rs 300 crore, are being misused to spread misleading information in Maharashtra. KTR said these funds, which were supposed to be allocated for local development projects and promises made to the people of Telangana, are being diverted for campaign purposes through advertisements. He argued that the government was using hundreds of crores to advertise the implementation of promises that have not been fulfilled in Telangana.
KTR asserted that Rahul Gandhi is falsely claiming accomplishments in Telangana, stating that the Congress leader has implemented programs and fulfilled promises that were, in reality, left unaddressed. For instance, KTR highlighted that Rahul Gandhi has been telling the people of Maharashtra that Congress delivered a Rs 2,500 financial assistance to women, a claim that he stated is untrue. KTR also pointed out that Congress has failed to meet many of the promises it made to the people of Telangana, including the long-promised farmer loan waiver, which remains incomplete despite public assertions to the contrary.
KTR urged the people of Maharashtra to critically examine these claims and enquire Telangana residents on the actual state of Congress’s guarantees. KTR called on Maharashtra voters to support regional parties rather than national parties like Congress and BJP, emphasizing that regional parties have been more effective in countering BJP in States like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, while Congress, he argued, has proven unable to do so. KTR has alleged that funds from corrupt practices in Telangana are being funnelled into Maharashtra’s elections, calling for strict oversight from the Election Commission. He emphasized that the Election Commission should take direct control over monitoring the borders between Maharashtra and Telangana to prevent the misuse of Telangana's public funds for electoral influence across State lines. He said such intervention is essential to halt the flow of Telangana's money into Maharashtra.
He recalled that in the past, the Central government flagged the use of funds from the Karnataka Valmiki scam during Telangana elections, yet no corrective measures were implemented. KTR insisted that it is now the responsibility of the Central Election Commission to ensure that Telangana’s money does not impact the Maharashtra elections, urging vigilance to maintain electoral integrity.
He said Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti faced serious allegations of corruption, which could lead to his removal from office. KTR questioned why Congress appears anxious about BRS presence in Delhi, he said he will expose the corruption of the Congress party in front of national media and parties. He emphasised the need to expose Rahul Gandhi, who is speaking in Delhi about crony capitalism.
KTR highlighted that Ponguleti, who reportedly sat in the cabinet and awarded contracts to his own sons firm named Raghava Constuctions, will inevitably lose his position due to these actions. He noted that despite a recent investigation by the Enforcement Directorate into the Revenue Minister, neither the ED nor Ponguleti made any public statement. However, KTR pointed out that after the ED’s involvement, Adani met with the same minister, raising further questions about these associations.
KTR insisted that Ponguleti must disclose the details of his meeting with Adani, questioning the ethics of awarding contracts to his son’s company while holding a cabinet position. He criticized Ponguleti for defending his decision by claiming that Raghava Company, which received these tenders, is superior to well-established firms like L&T and NCL. KTR demanded a clear ministerial response to clarify the basis for these disqualifications and the reasoning behind awarding the contract to his own company.
KTR addressed the issue of land acquisition in Kodangal, where he claimed that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is allegedly seizing land for a pharma company owned by his son-in-law. He expressed solidarity with the people of Kodangal, who, according to KTR, faced police action, including lathi charges, while protesting these acquisitions. KTR emphasised that it is unheard of for a district Collector to face public resistance to this extent in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and he demanded a government explanation.
