Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has launched a scathing attack on Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, raising serious concerns about the farm loan waiver scheme in the state. KTR claimed that the disbursement of funds under the scheme, which was initially promised to be Rs 49,000 crore, has been drastically reduced, undermining the state's commitment to its farmers.
In an in-depth interview with India Today TV, KTR laid out the sequence of events that led to the significant reduction in the disbursed amount. According to him, during a state-level bankers' committee meeting in December of the previous year, it was made clear that Rs 49,000 crore was needed to fulfill the loan waiver commitments made to the farming community. However, this figure was later revised downward after a series of internal discussions within the government. The amount, which was initially touted as Rs 49,000 crore, was inexplicably reduced to Rs 31,000 crore after a Cabinet meeting. Subsequently, only Rs 26,000 crore was allocated in the state budget, and eventually, a mere Rs 17,000 crore was disbursed by the Chief Minister.
KTR expressed deep frustration with this drastic reduction, questioning the government's transparency and its dedication to fulfilling its promises. He criticized Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for publicly declaring that 100% of the loan waiver had been completed, even though only Rs 17,000 crore had been disbursed—a figure significantly lower than the initially promised amount. KTR's remarks suggest a strong belief that the reduction was arbitrary and not in alignment with the state's obligations to its farmers.
The BRS leader also demanded that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy step down from his position, arguing that the Chief Minister had failed to keep his word to the farmers of Telangana. KTR's demand for resignation comes in the wake of widespread dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the farm loan waiver scheme, particularly among the farming community, which had high expectations based on the promises made during the election campaign. KTR further questioned whether Revanth Reddy was attempting to mislead Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had campaigned on the promise of waiving off loans of Rs 2 lakh for farmers if Congress came to power, or if he was deceiving the entire farming community.
Beyond the financial discrepancies, KTR also addressed the recent incident involving the vandalism of BRS legislator T Harish Rao's office by Congress workers. KTR condemned the act as a blatant attack on government property and criticized the Congress party for engaging in such uncivil behavior. He stressed the importance of maintaining civility in political discourse and emphasized that such actions were not only counterproductive but also reflected poorly on the state government's approach to dealing with its political opponents.
This controversy over the farm loan waiver scheme adds yet another layer of complexity to Telangana's political landscape, particularly in light of the promises made during election campaigns. KTR's accusations highlight significant concerns about the state's financial management and the fulfillment of electoral promises—issues that are likely to resonate deeply with the public, especially the farming community, which has been at the center of this controversy. The unfolding developments could have far-reaching implications for the current government in Telangana, as questions about accountability, transparency, and commitment to the electorate come to the forefront.
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