Taking serious exception to YSR Congress President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy beginning a Jala Deeksha (a fast) in Kurnool against the Palamur - Ranga Reddy and Dindi projects in Telangana, Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao today alleged that the former was trying to hoodwink the people for political gain.
Talking to reporters during his Adilabad tour, Rao claimed that Jagan was stepping into the shoes of his father Y S Rajasekhar Reddy who as Chief Minister of the combined state had diverted Telangana's waters to the Rayalaseema region.
He warned of dire consequences if Jagan failed to refrain from coming in the way of Telangana's irrigation projects.
"The YSR Congress chief is enacting dramas for selfish ends, and his efforts will boomerang as he will face the wrath of the Telangana people for his conspiracy against Telangana's projects. We are committed to completing our projects - one of the main reasons statehood was achieved was waters. Though Karnataka and Maharashtra are extending support to the irrigation and drinking water needs of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh's leaders are obstructing us," the minister said.
Harish's remarks came at a time when Jagan, during his Jala Deeksha, termed Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao "Hitler" for constructing irrigation projects "illegally".
There were multiple protests around the Telangana region against Jagan's fast. Osmania University students burnt an effigy of Jagan on Monday, and wrote letters to the Election Commission of India asking for a revoking of the license of the YSRCP as the Party's agitations were instigating inter-State water disputes.