Latest news with #T.HarishRao
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Harish Rao appears before PC Ghose Commission
Former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao on Monday (June 9, 2025) morning appeared before Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose Commission of Inquiry on alleged irregularities in the execution of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). He started from Telangana Bhavan — the headquarters of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) — to BRKR Bhavan in Hyderabad accompanied by senior leaders. The Commission has earlier served notices to him, and BRS president & former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, and Eatala Rajender — former Finance Minister and current BJP MP. Mr. Rajender appeared before the Commission on June 6 and said that his role in the project was limited to releasing funds allocated in the budget. Mr. Chandrashekar Rao is likely to appear on Wednesday (June 11, 2025). Mr. Harish Rao through a PowerPoint Presentation on Saturday defended change of location, how the project changed the agriculture landscape of the State, increase in costs and other aspects.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Harish Rao rules out alliance with BJP, says BRS will contest next polls alone and win 100 seats
Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former Minister T. Harish Rao ruled out the ongoing rumours about an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He reiterated that the BRS would fight the next elections by itself and return to power. Mr. Rao said the BRS chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) had already clarified the BRS's stand in a recent public meeting near Warangal that it will not form alliance with any party, and the rumours should be laid to rest. People want the BRS to return to power, and that is the mood in the villages, he said adding that it would win minimum a 100 seats. The former Irrigation Minister addressed the cadre during the Telangana Formation Day celebrations at the Telangana Bhavan, Hyderabad on Monday (June 2, 2025). He cleared the air on the alliance a few days after MLC K. Kavitha alleged that there were multiple attempts to merge BRS with BJP. In his fiery speech, he targeted the BJP and the Congress and accused them of compromising with Telangana's water interests. The inaction on the Banakacherla project, a contentious inter-State water issue, reflected the government's callous attitude, he alleged and revealed that the BRS would take the issue to the Supreme Court. The BJP, he said, was trying to please the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu who was extending support to the Central Government. Warning police officials, he said that those targeting the BRS workers would not be spared and their names were being noted in the 'Red Book'. The next BRS government will ensure punishment to such erring officials, he warned. Referring to the controversy involving Miss England Milla Magee, Mr. Harish Rao demanded the CCTV footage to be released and immediate action against senior politicians and an IAS officer, who he claimed were reportedly involved in misconduct.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BRS flays Centre's decision to fund A.P.'s Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project
HYDERABAD The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has criticised the Centre's decision to fund 50% of funds required for the execution of Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project to divert Godavari water to the Krishna and Penna Basins without mandatory clearances and to allow Andhra Pradesh to mobilise the remaining 50% funds by borrowing loans beyond Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act limits. The Centre's move was nothing but allowing A.P. to undertake illegal water diversion in violation of Telangana's riparian rights, senior leader of the BRS T. Harish Rao said, alleging that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his Cabinet colleagues were maintaining silence. He requested the Chief Minister to oppose A.P.'s illegal project in every possible way. Mr. Rao reminded the Centre, A.P. and Telangana governments that as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act provisions, it was mandatory to get clearance from the river management boards established under the Act for taking up new projects in the Krishna or Godavari Basins. 'The Centre was unfortunately encouraging the violators by providing funds', Mr. Harish Rao said in a statement. The BJP-led government was doing grave injustice to Telangana, he said and questioned the silence of Congress and BJP leaders of Telangana, including their 16 Parliament members, and two Union Ministers from the State. Step-motherly treatment He stated that the Centre had cut Telangana's borrowing limit under FRBM in lieu of the loans taken from the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) for executing the Kaleshwaram Project. However, A.P. is being allowed to borrow loans for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project beyond the FRBM limits, indicating the Centre's step-motherly treatment to Telangana. He recollected that it was the Congress that had allowed injustice to Telangana when the rulers of combined A.P. diverted Krishna water illegally by expanding Pothireddypadu Head Regulator to draw water from Srisailam to meet the needs in the non-basin areas at the cost of in-basin areas of Telangana. It was the Congress again now which was allowing illegal diversion of Godavari water.
The Wire
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Telangana Ex-CM KCR, Two Cabinet Colleagues Summoned by Commission Examining Kaleswaram Irregularities
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now government Telangana Ex-CM KCR, Two Cabinet Colleagues Summoned by Commission Examining Kaleswaram Irregularities N. Rahul 47 minutes ago T. Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender were summoned on June 6 and 9 respectively. K Chandrashekar Rao. Photo: X/@BRSparty. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Hyderabad: Former Telangana chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has been summoned to face an inquiry by a one-man commission headed by former Supreme Court judge and the first Lokpal of the country, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, into alleged irregularities in construction of Kaleswaram lift irrigation project in the state. He was served notice to appear before the commission at its office at BRK Bhavan here on June 5 while two of his former cabinet colleagues T. Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender were summoned on June 6 and 9 respectively. While Harish Rao was irrigation minister in the cabinet of Chandrasekhar Rao during his first term as chief minister from June 2014 to December 2018, Rajender was finance minister for the same period. Harish Rao later became finance minister in the second term, from September 2019 to November 2023. Chandrasekhar Rao also held the portfolio of irrigation throughout the second term when the project was dedicated to the nation by then governor E.S.L. Narasimhan. The role of the finance ministers had come under the scanner as they were held responsible for all the expenditure met under the project and borrowing of loans through an exclusive corporation. The notices to the three leaders sprang a surprise in official and political circles since it was widely believed that the commission was set to submit a 400-page report at the end of this month without giving them a hearing. Reports speculated that the commission felt that there was no need to hear them because the proceedings were mostly evidence-based and dependent on documents. Several argued that, if summoned, the leaders would deny many of the contentions which would require further cross-examination of witnesses and delay the submission of the report. The state government has also extended the term of the commission by two months up to July 31. This is the eighth extension given to the commission since it was constituted in March last year, three months after the Congress assumed power in the state. Initially, the commission was set a deadline of three months to complete its work but it was given seven extensions with the last one expiring on May 31, 2025, as the volume of work involved was significant. Several engineers, contracting firms, executing agencies and officials right up to then chief secretary of the government Somesh Kumar were looked at. Even the present chief secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao who was principal finance secretary and a senior official in the Chief Minister's Office Smita Sabharwal deposed before the commission. Many stakeholders and public representatives presented their version in the form of sworn affidavits. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News 'BRS Fought 3 Elections Alone, Will Continue the Trend': K.T. Rama Rao on Scope of Ties With BJP CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao Killed In Encounter in Chhattisgarh Karnataka Temple Trust Issues Apology to Muslims After BJP MLA's Inflammatory Speech Secularism, Federalism and Social Justice Have Always Been at the Heart of the Constitution 'Ceasefire Must Be the First Step': Over 1,000 Feminists from India and Pakistan Call for Dialogue 'Anti-India', Terror and Air Guns: How the Grounds for a Kerala Journalist's Detention Have Shifted Rapidly Invoking Rahul and State Survey, Telangana Congress Takes Credit For Union's Caste Census U-Turn Central Hall | Pakistan, Terrorism and the Role of Diplomacy Caught Between Borders and Broken Promises, Pakistani Woman's Journey Through J&K's Militant Rehab Policy About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Harish Rao urges CM to pay full salaries to workers of upgraded Anganwadis
HYDERABAD Senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former minister T. Harish Rao has requested Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to recognise the mini Anganwadi centres as main Anganwadis officially and pay full salaries to Anganwadi workers, though they were upgraded on paper over a year ago. In an open letter addressed to the Chief Minister on Tuesday, he stated that the Congress government had copied the orders (GO) issued by the previous BRS government and claimed it as its own. The Anganwadi workers were paid full salaries (as teachers) only for three months initially and later they were being paid the half (previous) salaries. Mr. Harish Rao recollected that the previous BRS government had upgraded mini Anganwadis as main centres and increased the salaries of Anganwadi workers by issuing orders on September 5 in 2023. However, they could not be implemented due to the election code of conduct, which came into effect a few days later. After coming to power, the Congress government had issued a GO on December 15 in 2023 and it was the first file signed by Minister for Women Development and Child Welfare Seethakka. It was nothing but the GO issued by the BRS government in the past. The upgraded Anganwadi workers were paid ₹13,650 per month from January to March in 2024, against ₹7,800 per month paid in the past. He questioned the rationale and sincerity of the government as to how it could reduce their salary to ₹7,800 a month after increasing it to ₹13,650 per month. Perhaps, the Congress government in Telangana could be the only State in the country to have started a tradition of reducing the increased salaries. It was nothing but snatching the morsel from the mouth of women employees at the village level. The BRS leader pointed out that the salaries of April payable in May were given to Anganwadi teachers and workers only in eight districts and sought to know why the payment for their month's work was not made. He asked whether the mini Anganwadis were only tools of publicity for the government and demanded that they be paid full (increased) salaries from January last year. Further, he suggested the government appoint helpers in every upgraded mini Anganwadi centre — 3,989 in all — and the salaries of April be paid in all districts immediately.
