Hyderabad, June 11 (RAHNUMA): Former minister and BRS deputy floor leader Harish Rao launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging large-scale corruption in the education sector, reckless borrowing, excessive spending on luxury projects, and policies that are hurting farmers, students, employees and the common people.
Speaking during an informal media interaction at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, Harish Rao alleged that the postponement of school reopening was linked to a massive ₹2,000 crore scam in the Education department.
He claimed that schools were not reopened on schedule because contracts related to uniforms, bags, notebooks, belts and other supplies had not been finalised due to commission-related issues.
According to Harish Rao, the previous BRS government had entrusted the stitching of uniforms to handloom workers and the manufacture of shoes and belts to LIDCAP to support Dalit families and local livelihoods. However, the Congress government allegedly centralised the process and handed contracts to a Gujarat-based contractor.
He alleged that supplies meant for nearly seven lakh Gurukul students, including uniforms, bags, belts and notebooks, had still not reached schools.
“During the BRS government, students received all materials on the very first day of school. Today, even after postponing the reopening of schools, the required supplies have not reached students,” he said.
Harish Rao alleged that tender rates had been nearly doubled compared to previous years, resulting in large-scale corruption. He further claimed that irregularities had occurred even in the procurement of eggs supplied to students in residential schools.
He also accused the government of failing to implement the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme properly, delaying payments to women’s self-help groups under Amma Odi committees and withholding salaries of school scavengers for the past four months.
Turning to Congress affairs, Harish Rao alleged that the rejection of the nomination of Telangana Congress in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan was the result of an internal conspiracy by leaders within the party itself.
He claimed that a close associate of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was responsible for leaking information that led to the rejection of her nomination.
“Curtailing the political prospects of one’s own party in-charge reflects the internal state of the Congress. The Chief Minister must order an inquiry and reveal the truth behind this episode,” he said.
Harish Rao also criticised what he described as extravagant spending by the Chief Minister despite claiming that the state treasury lacked funds.
He alleged that a luxury guest house named Bodhi Pavilion was being constructed at a cost of nearly ₹100 crore near the Chief Minister’s residence in Jubilee Hills.
According to him, a project initially sanctioned for ₹7 crore as a VVIP guest house had now expanded into a ₹100 crore facility, accompanied by additional spending on fencing and recreational infrastructure.
He further alleged that the Chief Minister was spending nearly ₹5 crore every month on helicopter travel, compared to about ₹2 crore earlier.
“If there is no money for fee reimbursement, farmers’ welfare, employees’ dues and welfare funds, where is the money coming from for luxury guest houses and helicopter rides?” he asked.
Harish Rao alleged that the government was imposing financial burdens on the public through increased RTA charges, registration fees, fuel taxes and other levies.
He criticised the increase in petrol and diesel taxes, claiming that the government would generate an additional ₹2,000 crore in revenue while burdening ordinary people.
He also expressed concern over proposed additional levies linked to the Future City project, including impact fees and toll-based charges.
According to Harish Rao, the government was relying heavily on brokers to arrange borrowings beyond normal limits and paying huge commissions in the process.
He alleged that one Mumbai-based broker had received such large commissions from the state government that he was able to purchase an aircraft.
Harish Rao also criticised the Congress government for abandoning the Pharma City project, claiming that the decision had resulted in investments and employment opportunities moving to Andhra Pradesh.
He alleged that several companies which had originally planned to invest in Pharma City had shifted their investments to Sri City in Nellore.
“I personally contributed 17 acres of land for Pharma City and was among the first landowners to support the project. By abandoning it, the Congress government has deprived Telangana of investments, revenue and employment opportunities,” he said.
Harish Rao asserted that a future BRS government would cancel the Future City project.
He urged the government to provide journalists with undisputed land parcels instead of offering plots in Future City, where legal disputes involving farmers were already pending.
