Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy expressed strong outrage over allegations that the Telangana government spent ₹10 crore from Singareni’s funds to host football legend Lionel Messi in Hyderabad last year. Speaking on Tuesday, the Minister questioned the relevance of a football exhibition to the state’s coal mining sector. He accused the current Congress government, much like the previous BRS regime, of “looting” the resources of the Singareni Collieries—often referred to as the “Golden Goose” of Telangana—for personal and political publicity.
The Minister highlighted the plight of Singareni workers, noting that while the government reportedly found funds for the football star’s visit, it has failed to provide timely wage hikes and medical reimbursements for contract and permanent laborers. “Who gave Chief Minister Revanth Reddy the authority to spend the hard-earned money of my Singareni workers on someone who simply comes from Argentina to play football?” Kishan Reddy asked. He argued that these funds should have been prioritized for the welfare of the mining community rather than “extravagant photo-ops.”
This controversy comes amid a broader investigation into SCCL’s finances. Minister Kishan Reddy has already directed a two-member technical committee to scrutinize ₹100 crore in CSR spending, which includes the expenses related to Messi’s tour. While the Chief Minister has previously defended the spending as a move to promote sports tourism, the Union Minister’s latest comments signal an intensifying political battle over the management and alleged misuse of public sector resources in Telangana.
