Hyderabad: The BRS Legislative Party on Monday requested Speaker Gaddam Prasad to allow a privilege motion against Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka for presenting misleading data on Telangana’s debt and tarnishing the reputation of the previous BRS government. The party also moved an adjournment motion demanding for discussion on the arrest of farmers who opposed acquisition of their farm lands for the Pharma Village at Lagacherla, which was rejected, amid protests from the opposition benches.
“Therefore, under Rule 168 (1) of the Telangana Legislative Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, we are giving a breach of assembly notice on behalf of the BRS Legislative Assembly party against the Finance Minister,” the party said. The BRS legislators charged the Congress government with inflating debt figures to Rs 7 lakh crore, contrary to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) report citing the outstanding liabilities as Rs 3.89 lakh crore. “The Finance Minister misled the Assembly and people of Telangana, with inflated statements,” said KT Rama Rao, BRS working president, citing the RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States.
Speaking to mediapersons, Rama Rao demanded that the government present accurate debt figures in the Assembly or allow the privilege motion for debate. He pointed out a past precedence when a similar motion was permitted under Speaker Nandendla Manohar against then Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, and emphasised the need to uphold legislative traditions.
“The Chief Minister, Ministers and other Congress leaders are making irresponsible statements to blame us for their incompetence to run the government. They are also misleading the public on paying Rs 6,500 crore per month towards interests for loans obtained during the BRS regime. RBI report clearly indicates that they are paying around Rs 22,000 crore per annum towards interest against loans,” he stated.
Further, the BRS working president criticised the government for prioritising short discussion on the new tourism policy in the Assembly, while ignoring pressing issues like the imprisonment of Lagacherla farmers. He called for an immediate debate on the incident, stressing its significance, especially as it occurred in the Speaker’s home district, Vikarabad.
Taking a dig at the government for discussion on tourism, Rama Rao felt that the Congress government might found it as an important topic considering their promotion of “Delhi Tourism” and “Jail Tourism” in the recent days. While the Chief Minister and Ministers have conducted over 100 trips to Delhi and promoted Delhi Tourism, they are encouraging “Jail Tourism” by imprisoning farmers of Lagacherla, social media activists, opposition leaders and recently, kept an actor in the jail even after he was granted bail by the High Court.
“The Chief Minister is openly threatening to imprison those who speak against the government schemes,” he slammed.
Raising concerns over Rs 691 crore unpaid dues to former sarpanches for past nine months, the BRS working president pointed out the Congress government’s selective allocation of funds favouring major contractors. He urged the Speaker to intervene and address these financial hardships faced by local elected representatives who mortgaged their properties and jewellery to pay for these contracts.
Rama Rao expressed outrage over new restrictions preventing former legislators from entering the Assembly premises. He contrasted this with the openness during the BRS regime, where former legislators had free access to the Chief Minister and the Ministers.
“Symbols of protest like nooses, dried crops, and lanterns were once permitted in the Assembly. Now, even placards are being restricted,” he remarked, accusing the government of silencing opposition voices. He said the opposition MLAs are also not being allowed to speak freely even at the media point.
The former Minister criticised Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka for announcing financial aid of Rs 12,000 per annum to farm labourers outside the Assembly, bypassing legislative norms. “Such announcements should be made within the Assembly, when the House is in session. Bhatti Vikramarka who served as Deputy Speaker appears to have forgot the established practices,” he said. He stated that if the announcement had been made in the Assembly, the BRS would have raised questions and cornered the government over its seriousness in implementing them.
Questioning the credibility of the Congress government’s welfare promises, Rama Rao stated that the public no longer trusts the government’s assurance to launch the promised schemes for festivals or pledges in the name of the Gods and Goddesses. The government has failed to deliver on its commitments, he added.
