Medigadda (Jayashankar Bhupalpally), Apr 20 (TNT) : Escalating the political heat over the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday launched a sharp attack on both the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, accusing them of attempting to shield alleged corruption in the multi-crore irrigation project.
Addressing a press conference at Medigadda, Revanth asserted that his government would not spare those responsible for the alleged irregularities and vowed to bring all culprits to justice.
He, however, maintained that the project itself would not be abandoned and that necessary repairs would be carried out to ensure water supply.
In a direct attack on former BRS Minsiter T. Harish Rao, Revanth questioned his recent visit to Delhi, alleging that it was an attempt to seek political protection in anticipation of a probe.
He demanded that Harish Rao disclose details of his meetings in the national capital and criticised him for consulting legal experts even before any formal judgment.
The Chief Minister also accused the BJP-led Union Government of remaining silent on repeated requests for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the project.
Despite a resolution passed by the State Government seeking a probe, no action has been taken, he said, questioning the Centre’s intent.
He also pointed to remarks by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy on the issue.
Taking a swipe at former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), Revanth Reddy alleged that a public meeting was deliberately organised to divert attention from the controversy on the day of his official visit to Medigadda.
He accused the previous BRS government of concealing facts related to the Medigadda barrage collapse in 2023, despite warnings from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA).
The Chief Minister said a committee headed by Justice P. C. Ghosh had already submitted a report pointing to alleged financial misappropriation in the project, and warned that any attempt to use political alliances as a shield would be countered.
With both BRS and BJP coming under attack, the Kaleshwaram issue is fast emerging as a major political flashpoint in Telangana, with the ruling Congress signalling an aggressive push for accountability alongside efforts to restore the project.
TNT TS
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