Latest news with #BRS
Hans India
24 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BRS leaders accuse Congress of betraying BCs
Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council S Madhusudana Chary on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, alleging that it has consistently betrayed Backward Classes (BCs) since India's independence. Speaking at the Maha Dharna organised by BC organisations at Indira Park on Tuesday, the BRS leader accused Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of being a 'liar and a betrayer of trust.' Labelling him a 'synonym for fraud and conspiracy,' he blamed the Congress party for relegating BCs to 'second-class citizens' in the country. He alleged that the party, which had been in power for sixty years, had 'cheated them by not conducting a caste census, not setting up a BC ministry, and not sharing in wealth creation.' This, he asserted, is why the party has 'lost its roots across the country.' He further criticised that Congress came to power by making 'empty promises' like 42 per cent reservations and an annual allocation of Rs 20 crore for BCs, despite knowing the 'many legal tangles' in conducting a caste census in the state. The BRS leader criticised the government for not demonstrating sincerity in legalising the BC quota since assuming power. MP V Ravichandra alleged that the Congress, which 'came to power by making false promises to BCs in the Kamareddy Declaration, was now completely drowning them.' He stated that BC bills were sent to the President via the Governor but 'no efforts were being made for their approval.' Talasani Srinivas Yadav demanded that 42 per cent reservation be implemented for BCs as per the promise made through Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Kamareddy Declaration. He warned that if they 'try to cheat BCs, the party would create an earthquake.' Lashing out at the caste census for being 'flawed,' Yadav accused the government of 'reducing the BC population by falsely counting 20 lakh people without going to their homes in the capital city.' He demanded that the BC bills be passed and included in the Ninth Schedule at the earliest. Gangula Kamalakar alleged that Congress has a 'history of fraud from then to now.' He accused the party of attempting to secure BC votes before the Assembly elections and now 'showing a stubborn hand.' He demanded that reservations be allocated to the weaker sections according to population ratio.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Ex engineer-in-chief Muralidhar Rao arrested
Hyderabad: In a major development in the alleged corruption in the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Telangana, on Tuesday arrested Chetti Muralidhar Rao, former Engineer-in-Chief of the Irrigation department, in a disproportionate assets (DA) case. Rao played a key role in the construction of the multi-crore Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) during the previous BRS government. The ACB conducted searches in the houses of Muralidhar and his close family members across the state before his arrest. Official sources said assets worth Rs 200 crore were unearthed during the searches. The probing agency also launched a hunt for Rao's son Abhishek who allegedly secured contract works on binami names and earned money through transactions related to the Kaleshwaram project. Officials from the ACB stated that a case has been registered against former ENC Rao under the Prevention of Corruption Act, based on the initial evidence suggesting that he accumulated wealth far exceeding his known sources of income during his tenure. Rao is currently in ACB custody and undergoing questioning. The arrest of the retired top irrigation official has assumed significance as Justice PC Ghose Commission of Enquiry which is investigating into the lift irrigation project is likely to submit its report soon. Justice Ghose had already grilled Rao and sought crucial information about the project details, including the escalation of the cost of the project and release of funds to the contracting agencies. Apart from Muralidhar Rao, the ACB also arrested several other senior officials of the Irrigation department in corruption cases. The ACB report in connection with the arrest of the top officials would also be crucial for the Ghose Commission to arrive at a conclusion on the role of irrigation officials in irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project which was constructed by borrowing funds from central funding agencies including financial institutions.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana refuses to discuss Banakacherla
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is likely to boycott the meeting convened by Union Jal Shakti Ministry with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on water-sharing disputes in New Delhi on Wednesday as the Central government has put the controversial Banakacherla river-linking project on the agenda. The state government has already raised strong objections to the inclusion of the Banakacherla lift irrigation project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government on the agenda of Wednesday's meeting. An official delegation led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was invited to take part in the meeting to thrash out interstate water disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. However, the Telangana government demanded the Centre to remove the Banakacherla project from the agenda. In a strongly worded letter to the Secretary of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Telangana Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao stated that there is no need to deliberate on the Polavaram (Godavari)-Banakacherla river-linking project, as it lacked necessary permissions and violated various laws and tribunal judgments. Rao pointed out that the project violated the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 by proposing to alter water allocations and project operations without mandatory consultation and consent of all co-basin states. The project also lacked statutory clearances from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and the Apex Council, he added. Instead, the Telangana government requested the Centre to include its own pending irrigation projects, which are awaiting approval and financial assistance, as part of the meeting agenda. It reiterated that the Banakacherla project would undermine Telangana's interests and has been objected to in official communications with the Centre. It also sought, among others, allocation of 80 TMC to the Pranahita project on Godavari River and financial assistance for it. Meanwhile, the Telangana government has decided to intensify efforts and "mount pressure" on the Centre to safeguard its rightful share of Krishna and Godavari River waters. The state government would push for Central approvals for its projects on the Krishna River, seek finalisation of water allocations and request financial assistance for the projects, according to an official statement. The Telangana government also accused the previous BRS regime of 'failing' to secure the state's share in Krishna waters despite being in power for 10 years. The BRS government had agreed to Telangana getting 299 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet) of water as its share, while neighbouring Andhra Pradesh got 512 TMC, it said. The government further alleged that the BRS government remained silent while Andhra diverted Krishna water and built 'illegal' projects.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
BRS Urges Poll Body To Delete Certain Symbols Resembling Party's "Car"
Hyderabad: BRS Leaders Boinipally Vinod Kumar and Soma Bharat Kumar met the State Election Commissioner on Tuesday seeking deletion of certain identical symbols from the list of free symbols as they are similar, identical and look alike to the Election Symbol of 'Car' of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. They submitted a request to remove symbols resembling the BRS party's "Car" symbol from the list of free symbols for local elections. The leaders explained the damage caused to BRS in the 2023 assembly elections by symbols resembling the car, such as the "Chapati Roller," "Camera," and "Ship." In a letter to the State Election Commissioner, the BRS stated, "We, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), a recognised state Political Party in Telangana, submit this representation regarding the misuse of identical symbols during Elections. Our party has been represented by the symbol 'CAR' for more than the last two decades and has successfully formed the Government in the State of Telangana twice since its formation on June 2, 2014. Over time, our party has earned the confidence and affection of the people through fulfilling promises made to the voters." "The present Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party was initially a Registered Party with Election Commission of India (ECI) as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). However, since the General Body of Telangana Rashtra Samithi party decided to change its name as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), we accordingly appealed to the ECI to change Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in its records," the letter stated. The letter stated that the change of name was initiated by the Party because it intended to go National by contesting elections across the country. "The BRS Party has been successful in fulfilling the promises made to the voters of the State and thus earned the confidence and affection of the people and voters of the State. Unfortunately, this situation made it possible for our opponents to employ dubious methods to damage our prospects in the Elections. In this process, the opponents of our party have taken advantage of such identical symbols, which are available in the list of free symbols, to confuse the voters in choosing and recognising the BRS Symbol Car on the Ballot Papers," the BRS said in its letter. "In view of the facts, circumstances and reasoning explained above and in lieu of the damage caused to the BRS Party, we earnestly pray your authority to immediately delete the above identical symbols to 'CAR' from the List of Free Symbols in-order to prevent using them in the upcoming Ordinary Elections to the MPTC/ZPTC Elections to be held in Telangana and other elections to State Legislatures and Parliament to be conducted throughout the country," BRS added in the letter.
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Buildings, Land, Homes Across Cities: Telangana Ex-Chief Engineer's Asset List
Hyderabad: The staggering scale of disproportionate assets allegedly accumulated by a former engineer-in-chief of the Telangana Irrigation Department has come out in the open following raids at 11 locations, including his Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad. A villa in Kondapur, four high-end flats in posh areas of Hyderabad like Banjara Hills and Begumpet, two commercial buildings, 11 acres of agricultural land, and a luxurious Mercedes-Benz are just a fraction of the staggering assets unearthed during the raids on the properties of Muralidhar Rao. The raids were conducted across Hyderabad, Karimnagar, and Zaheerabad as part of a disproportionate assets (DA) case on Tuesday. Mr Rao's inventory of residential assets includes a sprawling villa in Kondapur, a flat in Banjara Hills, another in Yousufguda, a flat in Begumpet, and one in Kokapet, all of which are in and around Hyderabad. He also owns an apartment in Kodad and an under-construction building in Warangal. Among the commercial properties and land holdings were a building in Karimnagar and another in Hyderabad, alongside 11 acres of agricultural land, and 6,500 square yards of prime open plots in Mokila, Hyderabad. Three four-wheelers, including a high-end Mercedes-Benz and significant quantities of gold ornaments. Other assets include substantial bank deposits and even a 2 KW solar power project in Zaheerabad. Rao was taken into custody from his Banjara Hills residence following the searches. He has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and has been sent to judicial custody. Officials said preliminary evidence strongly indicates that the unearthed assets are grossly disproportionate to his known and legitimate sources of income. The probe is focused on alleged irregularities tied to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, the flagship initiative of the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS government). Rao's arrest marks the second high-profile apprehension of a senior irrigation department official in a disproportionate assets case. Last month, Nune Sridhar, an executive engineer involved in the Kaleshwaram project, was also arrested and accused of having disproportionate assets worth Rs 60 crore.
