KTR Urges PM Modi to Act on Telangana AMRUT Corruption

Hyderabad: Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), the Working President of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action over the alleged corruption in the AMRUT scheme tenders in Telangana. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi on November 12, 2024, KTR criticised the Prime Minister for accusing Telangana of being an “ATM” for Congress, while failing to address the corruption charges in the state’s tendering process.

KTR alleged that despite ongoing accusations of corruption, the Prime Minister has not taken any action against the Congress government in Telangana. “It is not enough for PM Modi to make accusations against Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy in Telangana; he must take concrete steps to investigate and address the corruption linked to the AMRUT tenders,” KTR said. He also pointed out that BRS had already submitted substantial evidence of corruption to the central government.

On November 11, KTR and a delegation of BRS MPs met the Union Minister for Urban Development, Manohar Lal Khattar, and submitted a representation requesting an inquiry and the cancellation of the AMRUT tenders. Khattar assured the delegation that action would be taken, and requested time until the upcoming parliamentary sessions to gather information and initiate appropriate measures. KTR warned, however, that if no action is taken by the central government, the BRS would raise the issue in Parliament, particularly in the Rajya Sabha.

Also Read: Hyderabad MP candidates Asaduddin Owaisi and Madhavi Latha cast their votes

KTR described the situation as a “litmus test” for the BJP’s commitment to addressing corruption. He demanded that if the allegations against Telangana’s ruling Congress party are valid, the BJP must take immediate action. He accused the Congress-led government of awarding AMRUT tenders to companies linked to the Chief Minister’s family, specifically mentioning Shodha Constructions, a company tied to the CM’s brother-in-law, Sudini Srujan Reddy. KTR alleged that Shodha Constructions was awarded major portions of the contract despite lacking the necessary qualifications, with the Indian Hume Pipe Company being used as a front.

“If these allegations are false, BJP leaders should publicly reassure the public. But if the accusations are true, the BJP must act decisively,” KTR stated.

BJP-Congress Alleged Collusion in Telangana

KTR also criticised the BJP and its leadership in Telangana, accusing them of failing to address corruption within the Congress government. “Despite having eight MPs in Telangana, the BJP has never spoken out against the Congress’s corruption,” KTR said. He also took aim at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, inviting him to visit the “Goat Mandi” in Telangana, where, according to KTR, the Congress has been involved in “political horse-trading” by absorbing defectors from the BRS.

KTR argued that Congress had lost the moral high ground on party defections after it absorbed ten BRS legislators, despite previously criticizing the practice as unethical. He also accused Congress of creating a culture of “Aaya Ram–Gaya Ram” defections in Telangana.

Corruption in Telangana’s AMRUT Scheme Tenders

The controversy centers around the AMRUT scheme tenders, valued at over Rs 8,888 crore, which KTR claims were awarded under dubious circumstances. He alleged that the details of these tenders have been kept secret, even when requested under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

KTR claimed that the tenders were awarded to Shodha Constructions, despite the company’s apparent lack of qualifications. He further alleged that Indian Hume Pipe Company, a well-established firm, was used as a mere front to funnel substantial portions of the contract to Shodha Constructions.

“This is crony capitalism at its worst,” KTR said, echoing remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He called for the immediate cancellation of the AMRUT tenders, accusing Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) of violating the Office of Profit Act by allowing such transactions.

Rahul Gandhi Misleading Maharashtra Voters Using Telangana Funds

KTR also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of misleading voters in Maharashtra using funds diverted from Telangana’s budget. According to KTR, Rs. 300 crore allocated for Telangana’s development projects are being misused for political advertisements in Maharashtra. These funds, KTR alleged, are being used to promote false claims about Congress’s achievements in Telangana.

He cited Rahul Gandhi’s recent claims about delivering financial assistance to women in Telangana, which KTR called untrue. KTR urged the people of Maharashtra to scrutinize these claims and compare them with the reality in Telangana, where many promises, including a loan waiver for farmers, remain unmet.

Corruption Money from Telangana Allegedly Influencing Maharashtra Elections

KTR further accused the Congress of using funds obtained from alleged corrupt practices in Telangana to influence elections in Maharashtra. He called for the Election Commission to closely monitor the border areas between the two states to prevent misuse of Telangana’s public funds in Maharashtra’s electoral campaigns.

He recalled that the central government had previously flagged the misuse of funds from the Karnataka Valmiki scam during Telangana’s own elections, but no corrective measures were taken at the time. KTR called on the Election Commission to ensure that Telangana’s money does not impact the integrity of Maharashtra’s elections.

Ponguleti Faces Allegations of Corruption

KTR also addressed the growing allegations of corruption against Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. KTR accused the minister of awarding contracts to his son’s company, Raghava Constructions, while serving in the cabinet. He questioned the minister’s integrity, especially after a meeting between Ponguleti and Adani, raising further concerns about possible conflicts of interest.

Despite a recent investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), KTR noted that neither the ED nor Ponguleti had issued a public statement regarding the investigation. He called on Ponguleti to explain his actions and disclose the details of his meeting with Adani.

Land Acquisition Issues in Kodangal

KTR also touched upon the issue of land acquisition in Kodangal, the constituency of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He alleged that land was being forcibly acquired for a pharma company owned by the Chief Minister’s son-in-law and that local residents had faced police action, including lathi charges, in protest. KTR demanded that the state government provide an explanation for the handling of these protests, noting that such widespread resistance to land acquisitions was unprecedented in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao questioned the inaction of Centre against the alleged ‘RR Tax’ in Telangana. Addressing reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday, #KTR said Prime Minister #NarendraModi had earlier spoken about the ‘RR Tax’ and yet no action has been taken on the issue. pic.twitter.com/a5vJSD10Yz

— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) November 12, 2024