HYDERABAD: BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao on Tuesday alleged that the Legislative Assembly session ended without direction or accountability and accused the government of evading debate on key public issues, including the six guarantees.
Speaking to reporters, he claimed that the Congress government abruptly wrapped up the session to suit its political priorities while sidestepping discussions on unemployment, welfare of BCs, SCs and STs, irrigation, and other public concerns.
Harish Rao also objected to remarks made by Union minister CR Patil on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, alleging that both the BJP and Congress were now speaking “the same language” against what he described as Telangana’s lifeline project.
He recalled that all major approvals for Kaleshwaram were granted by the Centre, and that Union ministers and central agencies had earlier praised the project. He added that recent Economic Survey and the State Budget reaffirmed its impact.
“If Kaleshwaram has collapsed as they claim, then where is the additional irrigation coming from?” he asked. He further questioned how the government planned to bring 20 tmcft of drinking water to Hyderabad from Mallanna Sagar through canals at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore if the project was defunct.
Throwing an open challenge, Harish Rao called on Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, as well as Congress leaders, to visit farmers and ascertain which irrigation project was supporting their fields and the role played by Kaleshwaram in improving agricultural output.
He also alleged procedural lapses during the session, stating that Question Hour was not held on several days and that proceedings did not begin on time on any day. On one occasion, he said, the House was stalled for three hours on the grounds that the finance minister was “preparing”.
“Preparation should happen before entering the Assembly, not after the House is convened,” he remarked.
Harish Rao further alleged that the session was curtailed due to political considerations linked to Kerala. He accused Congress members of using “aggressive and irresponsible language,” including remarks about “playing with knives,” “cutting heads,” and “social boycott,” while alleging that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy failed to intervene.