BJP MP Appears Before Kaleshwaram Commission

The interrogation of BJP MP Etala Rajender before the Kaleshwaram Commission concluded today.

The Commission questioned Rajender in the context of his tenure as the State Finance Minister during the BRS regime.

Speaking to the media later, Rajender said that all information regarding the Kaleshwaram project was with former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and former minister Harish Rao, and that the Finance Department had only a minimal role in the project, and was not fully informed about its details.

"I had no role in the Kaleshwaram project. KCR formed a Cabinet Sub-Committee for its redesign, with then Irrigation Minister Harish Rao serving as its chairman. The construction of the Medigadda dam was undertaken considering water availability, and the dam construction is a technical matter. Politicians have no expertise in such engineering works," he said.

Rajender also said that the project was initially estimated at Rs 63,000 crore, but the cost later escalated to Rs 82,000 crore due to various factors. "Today, the commission asked questions about financial aspects. I was asked whether the Finance Department was involved in securing loans for the Kaleshwaram project. The Finance Department had no role in that - it was entirely handled by the Irrigation Department," he said.

"Even if a gun is held to my head, I will speak the truth. The people of Telangana will eventually know who is truly responsible," he added.

Rajender urged the Congress government to make all reports public and not to exploit the Kaleshwaram issue for political gains. He demanded strict action against those responsible for the project's losses. "If the real culprits are not punished, the Congress will face consequences in the public sphere," he said, and called for the immediate release of the Kaleshwaram Commission report.