Former minister Niranjan Reddy criticizes Congress at media meet
HYDERABAD: At a media meeting held at Telangana Bhavan, former Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy criticized Congress for its failures and unfulfilled promises. He dismissed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s statement that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would be a referendum on his governance. Niranjan Reddy highlighted Congress’s internal acknowledgment of its shortcomings by forming a committee to address its failures in Telangana.
Niranjan Reddy accused Congress of trying to rectify its mistakes by inducting four BRS MLAs but maintained that this would not strengthen the party. He noted the irony of Revanth Reddy, who once refused to accept defectors, now embracing them during his outreach efforts. Reddy recounted that during YSR’s tenure, many MLAs were poached, yet they couldn’t stop Telangana’s progress, emphasizing the state’s resilience.
The former minister stressed that Telangana remains a constant flame and the BRS party, which brought Telangana statehood and governed effectively for a decade, will continue to fight relentlessly. He argued that the belief that weakening BRS by taking four MLAs is misguided and that only the implementation of Congress’s promises could achieve success, which he deemed unfeasible.
Niranjan Reddy demands implementation of election promises
Niranjan Reddy criticized the state government’s two-month delay in pension distribution and questioned when the Rythu Bandhu scheme would be disbursed, reflecting farmers’ growing concerns. He likened the current situation to the saying, “A borrowed groom must comply whether hit or scolded,” indicating farmers’ distress over unfulfilled promises.
He pointed out the discrepancies in loan waivers, stating that out of Rs. 19k crore promised, only Rs. 14k crore had been delivered. He demanded clarity on whether the government would complete the loan waiver for remaining farmers before elections. He highlighted the issue of most farmers holding less than five acres and called for transparency regarding loans taken village-wise.
Niranjan Reddy also criticized the Congress for failing to deliver on its promise of Rs. 12k for farmer laborers and questioned the status of the Mahalakshmi scheme’s promised Rs. 2.5k. He accused Congress of canceling new ration cards despite election promises and questioned the legitimacy of Congress’s grand promises, citing comments from Jayaprakash Narayan who called them unachievable.
He condemned the celebratory actions surrounding the loan waiver announcement without actual implementation, calling it shameful. Reddy accused Congress of deceiving the rising youth generation and reminded the audience of the party’s historical imposition of emergency rule, tarnishing its credibility.
Addressing the Dalit Bandhu scheme, he criticized Congress and BJP for ridiculing such beneficial programs. He questioned Congress’s promise of Rs. 12 lakh under Ambedkar’s name, challenging the party to show evidence of fulfillment within seven months.
Niranjan Reddy appealed to intellectuals in the state to hold the government accountable. He highlighted Congress’s failure to act responsibly as an opposition party during a crucial time when the nation was divided into pro- and anti-Modi factions. He blamed Congress for BJP’s rise, as evidenced by the formation of AICC committees to address BJP’s successes in Telangana.
Concluding, Niranjan Reddy expressed confidence that BRS would undoubtedly recover and continue to serve Telangana. The media meeting saw participation from former MP Badugula Lingaiah Yadav and former SATS Chairman Allipuram Venkateshwar Reddy, who joined in demanding Congress to implement its election promises.
