In a blistering attack on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, senior BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao accused him of striking a “midnight deal” with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the cost of Telangana’s rightful share in river waters.
The BRS leader said Revanth Reddy had betrayed the people of Telangana by agreeing to Andhra Pradesh’s proposal to constitute a committee on the contentious Banakacherla project, despite previously claiming he would boycott such discussions.
“Revanth Reddy had vowed not to attend any meeting where Banakacherla was discussed. Yet, he ran to Delhi in the dead of night and silently agreed to what he once opposed. What was the secret deal struck at midnight?” Harish Rao questioned.
The former Minister called out Revanth Reddy’s lies contradictory to statements from Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu over the meeting’s agenda included discussion on the Banakacherla project.
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, the former Irrigation Minister reminded that various Central institutions like the Central Water Commission (CWC), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) and Polavaram Project Authority had already rejected the Banakacherla project’s feasibility.
“Why did Revanth agree to the constitution of a committee on a project that has no official approval? This is nothing short of surrendering Telangana’s water interests to Andhra leadership,” he declared.
Further intensifying his attack, Harish Rao said Telangana is no longer ruled by the Congress, but is remotely controlled by the BJP and TDP.
“Congress MLAs themselves admitted that TDP covert agents were inside their party. Revanth Reddy is acting as per Chandrababu Naidu‘s orders, even appointing former Andhra Pradesh bureaucrats like Adityanath Das who worked against Telangana’s interests as advisors to the State government,” he said.
Calling the Congress government “a puppet regime,” he said that 65 TMC ft. of water was handed to Andhra Pradesh as “Guru Dakshina.”
“You did not switch on Kalwakurthy project pumps until we questioned you. Water has been flowing for 36 days, and you call yourself the protector of Telangana’s interests,” he ridiculed.
The BRS legislator accused Revanth Reddy of pushing Telangana back decades in irrigation, citing damage to critical infrastructure like Peddavagu, Sunkishala, SLBC, and Jurala, despite which no corrective measures were taken.
“In 20 months, what have you achieved except cursing former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and other BRS leaders? You did not provide water to a single acre additionally,” he charged, stating that the previous BRS government had created a new ayacut for 17.24 lakh acres and stabilised 30 lakh acres in its 10-year rule.
Harish Rao demanded Revanth Reddy tender an unconditional apology for the historic betrayal of the people of the State. He warned that BRS will not allow the Banakacherla project any further. He urged all stakeholders of Telangana to unite and resist the assault on the State’s rights.
