Bhatti Challenges KTR To Prove Bribery Allegations

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka today issued a sharp rebuttal to BRS MLA K T Rama Rao's remarks on "percentages" (bribes in government contracts), challenging him to either substantiate his claims or apologise to the Legislative Assembly and the people of the State.

"You must prove your allegations or tender an apology. We entered politics with a sense of responsibility, standing for the downtrodden, the oppressed, the working class and the marginalized. Unlike you, we did not plunder the State left, right and centre. Members must speak in the House with integrity and choose their words carefully. Do you think you can get away with loose talk?" the Deputy CM said in the Legislative Assembly, and asked how some members could openly spread falsehoods in the name of debate and discussion.

Bhatti also took exception to what he called the lies spread by BRS MLAs, particularly regarding government initiatives such as the Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastham.

"The government has decided to provide financial assistance to candidates who qualify for the Mains and Interview stages of the UPSC Civil Services examination. If students from our State succeed, it will enhance Telangana's reputation, and they could work to safeguard the State's interests. This was the intent behind our decision," he explained.

Criticising the previous BRS regime, the Deputy CM said, "The previous government left Rs 40,000 crore in unpaid dues for various works. Due to their misdeeds, a total of one lakh crore rupees worth of bills remain pending. Contractors who executed these works are now running from pillar to post at the Secretariat to get their payments. Also, while the previous Congress government distributed land to 24 lakh farmers through land reforms, the BRS government placed these farmers under Part B of the Dharani system, forcing them to make repeated visits to government offices. Their administration empowered Tehsildars to register land without proper verification, thereby undermining the land laws that were won after long struggles."

He also criticised the BRS for "eliminating" the cultivator column in land records, favouring patta holders and effectively allowing former Jagirdars and Zamindars to reclaim lands that had been redistributed to farmers. He said that the Congress had painstakingly secured land rights for farmers through inspiration drawn from the armed peasant struggle, but that the BRS government had undone these reforms by introducing the pattadar column and removing the cultivator column under the "draconian" Dharani Act.

"We promised the people that Dharani would be discarded into the Bay of Bengal, and we have done that. The people trusted us with their votes, and we have repaid that trust," Bhatti said.