The war of words between KTR and Ramesh opens a can of worms
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Hyderabad: BRS Working president K T Rama Rao and BJP MP C M Ramesh’s war of words over the mortgage of government lands in Kancha Gachibowli and contracts in Future City near Hyderabad has rocked the two Telugu States and opened up a can of worms.
In the
process, a revival of the TDP-BJP electoral tie-up in Telangana State has been
hinted and there is a reemergence of Telangana and Andhra sentiment by BRS
leaders.
What was a
political allegation by K T Rama Rao that Revanth Reddy Government had handed
over Rs 1,665 crore Future City Road works on a platter to Rithivik projects
allegedly connected to BJP Anakapalle MP of Andhra Pradesh spilled to personal
and political attacks, with Ramesh alleging KTR proposed merger of BRS with BJP
in place of reprieve from corruption inquiry by Central agencies and release of
sister Kalvakuntla Kavita caught in liquor scam from Tihar Jail.
While KTR
refuted BRS’s offer to merge with BJP, Ramesh too stoutly denied that contracts
were given to firms on “nomination basis” and asserted the company got through
a competitive bidding.
This is the
second time TRS has turned down BRS’s proposed merger of the party. First, it
was instead of Telangana State with Congress during the T movement, and now
with the BJP to keep ED, CBI at bay from BRS leaders, including Kavitha.
KTR
refutes merger of BRS with BJP
KTR tweeted:
“In a democracy, there is no power greater than the power of the people. It was
you who brought Congress to power with your vote… and it is you who will have
to bring them down tomorrow. That one, this one, they keep talking. The BRS
party will remain here for another 50, 100 years, serving you and working for
you. As long as Telangana exists, the BRS party will exist. – BRS Working
President @KTRBRS.
KTR alleged
the MP was behind the mortgage of 400 acres of forest land in Kancha
Gachibowli, Hyderabad, to get a Rs. 10,000 crore loan. “I told you that I would
reveal this thief’s name. The thief has been exposed…C M Ramesh…BJP MP. Since
Ramesh helped CM in the mortgage of the lands, he presented him with a big
contract in Future City.
He added, “I
ask Rahul Gandhi why he is silent when his government is giving illegal
contracts to a BJP MP from the Andhra region? Why is the BJP not reacting?
The merger
of TRS with Congress and now BRS with BJP has raised shackles in the BRS party,
with party leaders and workers stumped. Kavitha, too, had talked about it after
her release from Tihar Jail.
C M
Ramesh hits back
Taking
strong exception to KTR’s allegations, C M Ramesh hit back literally below the
belt.
Said Ramesh,
“For the last few days, KTR has been levelling allegations against me,
including a nexus between the BJP, Congress to secure government contracts. I
wanted to ignore it like dogs barking when an elephant walks. But allegations
have increased. He made two serious allegations. First, I helped the government
get loans by mortgaging Kancha Gachibowli lands, and instead of that, the
government gave a huge contract to Rithwik Constructions in Future City.”
He added,
“KTR was in the government for 10 years. Can anyone give Rs 1665 crore works on
a nomination basis? Is he so ignorant? I thought he wanted to target Revanth
Reddy. He could have done it instead of dragging me into the controversy. But
then realised he is facing a problem at home like the one Jagan Mohan Reddy is
facing with his sister. Is it to divert attention? “
Ramesh said
he got all the details of the Rs 1665 crore works in Future City and found that
five to six companies, including Rithivik Projects, Mega Engineering, L and T,
Raghava, and others, bid.
“There were
two packages, one given to L and T and another to Rithivik. KTR says Rethink’s
projects belong to me, but I am not part of the company and resigned 15 years
ago. Since he had repeatedly levelled allegations, I had no option but to make
it public,” he remarked.
Ramesh was
also angry at KTR, alleging that contracts in Telangana State were given to
“Andhra walas”, ignoring Telangana contractors.
Ramesh
denies allegations
Ramesh said
KTR’s allegation that Rithivik Company obtained contracts in collusion with CM
Revanth Reddy was “silly” and “entirely false”, and added he has nothing to do
with the contracts.
The feud
also brought to the fore Telangana—Andhra sentiment again, with Ramesh throwing
a challenge to KTR to reveal the list of Andhra companies that had bagged
contracts during the 10-year BRS rule.
“You (KTR)
were in government for 10 years. During that period, you have given contracts
of nearly Rs 6 to 7 lakh crore. Kaleshwaram one lakh crore, water scheme Rs
30,000 crore…electricity works. No government contract above Rs 5 lakh is given
on a nomination basis. There is a process…tenders, and the lowest bidder gets
it. He alleged I am a friend of Revanth Reddy.”
Ramesh
added: I have a lot to talk about. Sometime back, he came to me for some work.
I told him why they were not taking proper political steps…lost good
leaders…kept leaders like Tummala Nageswara Rao away, and I feel sad now. KTR
said Chandrababu Naidu was a Kamma. We don’t invite Kamma leaders, and we don’t
need them. We trusted Reddys, but the moment we lost the government, they went
away. I advised him not to talk ill of any community. He added,” KTR said
Reddys have gone to the Revanth Reddy fold and Kammas to Chandrababu Naidu.”
KTR came
to my home in New Delhi
Ramesh said
KTR came to his house, No. 7 Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, when his sister
Kavitha was in Tihar Jail over a liquor scam. During the chat, KTR offered to
merge BRS with BJP or have an alliance with BJP if the latter kept ED, CBI from
corruption charges and Kavitha was released from jail in the liquor scam. I
told him I am not the authority and will discuss with party leaders on the
merger issue. There are CC cameras to prove it.”
BJP MP said
when he broached the issue with some party leaders, they said BRS was a sinking
ship and had a bad image, hence the people rejected the party in the assembly
and Lok Sabha elections. “Party leaders said BJP will come to power on its own
in Telangana State sooner or later, and there is no need to carry “this baggage
(BRS)”.
He added,
“They said there was Telangana sentiment in the beginning, and the situation
has changed. Telangana people have realised the truth, and they won’t vote BRS
again. I passed on the message to KTR. Remember, Kavitha too had revealed about
the merger.”
KTR also said his father (K Chandrasekhar Rao) was ill and he was unable to take all these things. “KTR should remember how he won the assembly polls by a whisker of 300 votes. In Sircilla, I helped him, but he is ungrateful and levelling baseless allegations against me. If he had a grudge against CM Revanth Reddy, he should settle scores with him but not drag me into this conflict.”
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