BRS Won't Even Retain Deposits Hereon: Bhatti

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka today said that the BRS would lose its deposits in all the upcoming elections, including not just the next Assembly elections but even the local body elections.

Addressing a public meeting at Somala Tanda in Mahabubabad district, Vikramarka alleged that during its 10-year rule, the BRS government had spent Rs 1-2 lakh crore on irrigation but failed to provide water even to 10 acres. "Now that the truth about Kaleshwaram is being exposed, they're trying to cover it up with lies," he said.

He also said that the Congress government was ready for a debate in the Assembly on the Krishna and Godavari river waters, but Opposition leader K Chandrashekar Rao needed to take part.

"They say whatever they want about CM Revanth Reddy, claiming he doesn't understand river basins. But didn't he clearly explain the need to use the Krishna and Godavari waters through a presentation at Praja Bhavan?" he also asked.

Bhatti said that the Chief Minister had also presented evidence of the injustice done to Telangana in water sharing during the BRS regime. He reminded the public that KCR had once declared in Andhra Pradesh that the State could use the Krishna-Godavari waters, disregarding basin priorities - a statement Revanth Reddy had played on video. That was the reason that the former CM was refusing to attend Assembly or come to a debate, Vikramarka claimed - because all his lies would be called out.

"BRS leaders also cannot digest this truth that the Congress government has spent over Rs 1 lakh crore on welfare schemes, and keep spewing lies about our government. If they truly care about the people, they should come to the Assembly with their data and debate. Let's see who is right and who is wrong," the Deputy CM added.

He accused KCR of dodging the debates being called for by Congress leaders and sending others in his place. "If you really want to respond to the challenge, come to the Assembly, not a press club," he added.

Responding to BRS allegations of power cuts and transformer failures, the minister asked, "Are you ready to compare power demand during your rule and ours?" He said that while the peak power demand during the previous government was 17,162 MW, it had risen by 2,000 MW in March this year. However, despite the surge there were no blackouts and 24x7 free power was being supplied to farmers, he said.