Ready for CBI probe against KCR on Kaleshwaram scam in 48 hours: Kishan

Union minister and Telangana state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy said on Tuesday that the Central government will deploy the CBI within 48 hours to probe the financial irregularities and scam in the Kaleshwaram project if the Congress-led state government writes to the Centre.

"Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who sought a CBI inquiry as the TPCC president before elections, is now opting for a judicial inquiry instead," he said, wondering why the Congress was hesitating when the option for a CBI probe was available.

Addressing the media in the city, he said, "Reviews are being done by ministers, and presentations are being done, but why is the CBI inquiry not being sought? As a Union minister, the CBI will act on the complaint within 48 hours after receiving the letter. Does the Congress not intend to punish the guilty?"

He claimed that the Congress seems to have struck a deal with the BRS to remain in power.

"The DNA of the BRS and the Congress are same; they both indulge in graft. They have worked together in the past. BRS chief KCR served as a Union minister in the Congress-led UPA government," he said.

He further alleged that the Congress lacked clarity on the Kaleshwaram project. "The BRS government had only answered 11 of 20 queries raised by the National Dam Safety Authority. The Congress came to power peddling the narrative that the BRS and BJP were together. They had further asked why was Prime Minister Narendra Modi not probing Kaleshwaram despite calling it an ATM for the BRS?" he said.

Recounting that the Centre had acted promptly, he said, "The Centre deployed the Dam Safety Authority after piers of the Medigadda barrage sunk on October 21, 2023, and their team visited the state on October 25,



2023.

But the questions raised by them have not been answered by the Telangana government, he said. The authority had warned it cannot give proper suggestions if full information is not provided to it. It concluded that proper investigation and soil testing, among others, were not done.

"Unfortunately, a project built by BRS government with such high cost to the exchequer is lying waste, damaging the image of Telangana," he lamented.

Kishan Reddy said, "The party state executive will meet on January 7 and 8 to chalk out a 90-day action plan for the ensuing parliamentary polls. It will include how to involve youth and women in street corner meetings. The candidature of old party candidates is also likely to be considered along with new ones."

On potential candidates to contest the MLC seat vacated by BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, he said, "Prakash Reddy is also qualified to be an MLC candidate from the graduate’s constituency. As of now, there is no proposal to field Manda Krishna Madiga as an MP candidate. The SC categorisation is being overseen by a committee headed by the Union Cabinet secretary. We are giving an affidavit in the Supreme Court facilitating categorisation."

On the election of the party’s legislature party leader, he averred that it was not done due to paucity of time. "There is no proposal to change district presidents as of now. The promise to make a BC CM certainly added to our voting percentage, which doubled in the Assembly polls. The election schedule for parliamentary polls could come on February 28 or in the first week of March," he said.

On Andhra Pradesh politics, he said, "The alliance with Jana Sena will continue as a member of NDA, but seat adjustments have not been discussed."