HYDERABAD: Mounting a fierce political counter-offensive, Telangana Information, Public Relations, Revenue, and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy launched a blistering attack on Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), dismissing opposition allegations of corruption and illegal mining as baseless political vendetta.
Speaking during an interaction with reporters, Minister Srinivas Reddy challenged the BRS leadership to substantiate their allegations on public platforms or face accountability for misleading the state.
Dismissing claims raised by KTR regarding contract irregularities and mining licenses, Minister Ponguleti asserted that the current Congress administration operates with complete transparency. He stated that allegations surrounding family-linked firms are distraction tactics used by the opposition.
Responding to demands for his resignation, Srinivas Reddy challenged KTR to prove the corruption allegations with concrete evidence. “If KTR proves even a single charge of wrongdoing, I am ready to resign immediately,” the Minister stated, calling on the BRS leader to step down from his MLA post if the charges fail.
Turning the focus toward the previous BRS regime, Ponguleti targeted both K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and KTR over the damage and structural failures of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. He urged opposition leaders to come to the State Assembly and account for public funds spent during their ten-year tenure rather than pointing fingers at the ruling government.
The Minister reiterated the Congress government’s commitment to implementing the Indiramma housing scheme, promising that incomplete housing projects left behind by the previous administration would be restored and distributed to eligible poor beneficiaries.
The escalating verbal duel comes amidst intensified friction between the ruling Congress party and the main opposition BRS. In recent weeks, KTR and BRS leaders have targeted Minister Ponguleti over alleged favors in state tenders and mining activities, demanding independent inquiries. In response, the Congress leadership has consistently maintained that all state procurement and tender processes adhere strictly to administrative norms.
