Harish Rao insulting judiciary after being rattled with Ghose Commission's findings: Uttam
Mr. Reddy said the former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and Mr. Harish Rao were rattled after the Judicial Commission exposed the financial irregularities and that the Kaleshwaram project was approved without Cabinet consent, with contracts signed under dubious directions from Mr. KCR and Mr. Harish Rao.
'You committed a scam worth thousands of crores and now call the Judicial Commission a political vendetta?', he asked in response to Mr. Harish Rao's presentation on Tuesday.
The Minister reminded that both former CM KCR and Mr. Harish Rao had appeared before the Judicial Commission. 'Why didn't Harish Rao raise these objections before the commission? Why come out now with baseless allegations in front of party workers?' he questioned.
The commission's detailed report exposed widespread irregularities, design flaws and structural failures in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, particularly the sinking of the Medigadda barrage.
Mr. Reddy said the Congress believes in democracy and the judiciary, which is why it was ready to hold a full discussion in the Assembly based on the Commission's report. 'Those found guilty, including former ministers, are welcome to join the debate and present their version,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Withdraw free symbols, bring back ballot system: BRS urges EC
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has asked Election Commission (EC) for the immediate withdrawal of eight free symbols and permanent safeguards to protect the visual identity of state-recognised parties, particularly in states where they are dominant players. The party said there was persistent misuse of free symbols that closely resemble its reserved election symbol, the car. In particular, the party flagged eight free symbols — camera, chapati roller, dolli, road roller, soap dish, television, sewing machine, and ship — which, when displayed in small sizes on EVMs and ballot papers, are indistinguishable from the car symbol, especially for illiterate and elderly voters. The BRS delegation, led by KTR, met the ECI officials in Delhi on Tuesday upon the Commission's invitation for an interaction. Rajya Sabha MPs KR Suresh Reddy, Vaddiraju Ravichandra, former MP B Vinod Kumar, and Balka Suman and RS Praveen Kumar were part of the delegation. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad BRS said that in several past elections, including the 2019 Bhongir Lok Sabha (LS) election, the confusion caused by these symbols led to an abnormal diversion of votes meant for the pink party, helping rival or independent candidates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Find out: this is how you clean your yoga mat! Kingdom Of Men Undo The party also expressed disappointment over the lack of timely action on its earlier representations during the 2023 assembly and 2024 LS elections. These included abusive and derogatory statements by leaders of rival parties, disparities in the Commission's response to complaints filed by BRS versus those filed against it, and inaction on the model code of conduct violations, including misuse of social media, hate speech, and politicisation of govt events. KTR also submitted a detailed representation to EC urging the constitutional body to address critical concerns affecting electoral integrity and a level-playing field. He highlighted four major issues: the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in Bihar, the party's call for a return to paper ballots, the repeated misuse of identical free symbols that dilute the party's identity, and non-action on past representations regarding violations of the model code of conduct (MCC). BRS has called for a withdrawal of the current SIR in Bihar and also expressed its concerns over the continued use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), citing growing public distrust and international precedents. "BRS would like to voice its serious concern about suspicions over the usage of electronic voting machines. Several media reports to this effect have surfaced over the last few years. Many political parties, activists, and voters have also expressed their concerns about the usage of EVMs," BRS mentioned in its letter. It urged EC to consider reinstating paper ballots, starting with the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Nov 2025, to restore public confidence in the democratic process.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Voiced our concerns regarding SIR in Bihar: KT Rama Rao
New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao on Tuesday raised concerns over the ongoing voter list revision exercise, particularly in Bihar, during a meeting with the Election Commission in the national to reporters after the meeting, KTR said he had a detailed discussion with the Chief Election Commissioner regarding what he called a 'serious intensive revision" of electoral expressed apprehension over what he described as the 'opaqueness" of the process and urged the poll panel to ensure greater said, 'We met the Election commissioner and his two election commissioners. We voiced our concerns regarding serious intensive revision happening in Bihar and to happen in the rest of the country. We have expressed our concerns over the opaqueness of the process followed."KTR added, 'The Election Commissioner has said that they are following the due process. We have requested him to follow a more transparent process by engaging and evolving." On Tuesday, The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) formally submitted a detailed representation to the Election Commission of India (ECI), urging the constitutional body to address critical concerns affecting electoral integrity and a level playing field, the party said in a party delegation, headed by Party Working President KT Rama Rao, met the Election Commission on Tuesday in New Delhi upon the Commission's invitation for an interaction. Rajya Sabha members KR Suresh Reddy, Vaddiraju Ravichandra, former MP B Vinod Kumar, and senior leaders Balka Suman and RS Praveen Kumar were part of the representation, submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner, highlights four major issues: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in Bihar, the party's call for a return to paper ballots, the 'repeated misuse of identical free symbols that dilute the party's identity", and 'non-action" on past representations regarding violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).BRS has voiced serious apprehensions over the 'untimely and targeted nature" of the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. The party termed the SIR exercise 'unwarranted, particularly with elections on the horizon", and cautioned that it could 'lead to large-scale voter deletions, especially among migrant and disadvantaged communities".BRS party observed that the 'disenfranchisement of migrant labour, who move across states for economic survival, is deeply concerning. Documents like Aadhaar and Voter ID must suffice for voter eligibility".BRS has called for a 'withdrawal" of the current SIR in Bihar, the institution of biannual, scientific, and transparent revision processes, the formation of booth-level all-party committees to verify deletions or modifications, and the prominent public display of voter rolls at regular party warned that hasty revisions driven by unverified media narratives and partisan representations could undermine the universal franchise and the legitimacy of the voters' party also expressed its concerns over the continued use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), citing growing public distrust and international precedents.'The BRS Party would like to voice its serious concern about suspicions over the usage of Electronic Voting Machines. Several media report to this effect have surfaced over the last few years. Many political parties, activists and voters have also expressed their concerns about the usage of EVMs," the BRS mentioned in its BRS party reminded that the world's oldest democracy, the US, and mature democracies like the UK, Japan, and Germany do not use EVMs for national the German Constitutional Court's 2009 judgment, the party emphasised the need for ordinary citizens to verify crucial steps of the election process without specialist BRS urged the ECI to consider reinstating paper ballots, starting with the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections in November 2025, to restore public confidence in the democratic party once again highlighted the persistent 'misuse" of free symbols that closely resemble its reserved election symbol – the Car. In particular, the party flagged eight free symbols – Camera, Chapati Roller, Dolli, Road Roller, Soap Dish, Television, Sewing Machine, and Ship – which, when displayed in small sizes on EVMs and ballot papers, are indistinguishable from the Car symbol, especially for illiterate and elderly said that in several past elections, including the 2019 Bhongir Lok Sabha election, 'the confusion caused by these symbols led to an abnormal diversion of votes meant for the BRS, helping rival or independent candidates."The party demanded the immediate withdrawal of these eight free symbols, permanent safeguards to protect the visual identity of State Recognised Parties, particularly in states where they are dominant players, and institutional parity in the protection offered to National and State parties also expressed disappointment over the lack of timely action on its earlier representations during the 2023 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. These included abusive and derogatory statements by leaders of rival parties, disparities in the Commission's response to complaints filed by BRS versus those filed against it, and inaction on Model Code of Conduct violations, including misuse of social media, hate speech, and politicisation of government party appealed for an urgent re-evaluation of all pending representations and sought assurance of impartial treatment from the ECI.'We believe that the strength of Indian democracy lies in ensuring equal electoral opportunity to all recognised political parties. As a State Recognised Party that has played a pivotal role in the formation and governance of Telangana, we seek the institutional protection and fairness constitutionally due to us," the BRS noted. (ANI)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
BRS challenges Ghose report, calls it ‘baseless & one-sided'
Hyderabad: Alleging that Justice (Retd) PC Ghose commission's report on Kaleshwaram was one-sided and baseless, and accusing the Congress govt of selectively using parts of it to target former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, BRS leader T Harish Rao said the party will place the real facts before the people. He stated that the commission's findings were incorrect, claiming that the BRS has every piece of evidence to prove that the commission's observations were incorrect, including data on the availability of water at Thummidihatti, the expert committee report, and cabinet approvals. "This entire commission inquiry appears to be driven by conspiracy. Once this 665-page report is tabled in the Assembly, we will corner the govt. Many commissions have been set up in this country before, and their reports often do not stand in courts of law," Harish Rao said while giving a detailed presentation to counter the Ghose commission's report. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad On the cabinet approvals, Harish said the BRS govt had indeed obtained approvals for the Kaleshwaram project and the re-engineering of the irrigation projects. He said each project had a 20 to 30-page cabinet note, and cabinet meeting dates were recorded. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Interested in Investing? Cyprus Offers Many Options Cyprus Invest | Search ads Undo "It is wrong to claim that theKaleshwaram project was solely the decision of KCR," he said. "Apart from cabinet approval, there was also assembly approval. The Governor's address during the assembly sessions also mentioned the Kaleshwaram project re-engineering. Generally, the Governor's speech is approved by the cabinet, which means it has the Governor's approval and the assembly's approval as well. The then chief minister, KCR, gave a detailed presentation on Kaleshwaram in the assembly. So, where is the question of saying there was no cabinet approval?" he said. He said the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the project's DPR clearly mentioned insufficient water availability at Thummidihatti, the presence of reserve forest areas in Maharashtra, and submergence issues, all of which led to the project being shifted to Medigadda. "It is wrong to say that the expert report was suppressed by the BRS govt. The expert committee itself mentioned in an affidavit submitted to the inquiry commission that, based on their suggestions, water was drawn from Medigadda to Mid Manair from the Yellampally project," he said. Harish added thatthe BRS govt went ahead with the project after getting 11 types of approvals from the Centre and the ministry of Jal Shakti. "KCR even wrote a letter to the PM seeking national status and funds. Is asking for national status for Pranahitha wrong? Chief minister Revanth performed the groundbreaking ceremony for Kodangal Lift Irrigation – what approval did it have? The works began without a DPR and approvals." The former irrigation minister also attacked the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), stating that it visited Medigadda within two days after the two piers of the barrage sank and gave a preliminary report within three days just before the 2023 assembly polls. While one report was given just before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the final report was given just before the silver jubilee celebrations meeting. Questioning the NDSA's consistency, he asked if the authority had a state-wise policy. "Why didn't the NDSA go to Polavaram, which collapsed three times? Polavaram was built when the present NDSA chairman, Chandrasekhar Iyer, was heading the Polavaram Project Authority, he said.
