Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Saturday criticized Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for allegedly colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government over the sale of coal blocks in Telangana. KTR, the former IT minister, asserted that under the leadership of party supremo K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), the BRS has consistently opposed the sale of coal blocks in Telangana and has never participated in any auctions.
“However, today, the Congress shamelessly participates in auctions, betraying Telangana’s interests,” KTR remarked, referring to the auction of coal blocks in Telangana, which the BRS has been opposing. KTR also claimed that although the BJP government at the Centre “unilaterally” auctioned Telangana’s coal blocks, no mining has commenced due to the BRS’s strong opposition.
“The companies allocated these blocks have not been able to move an inch, thanks to the BRS’s steadfast stance,” KTR stated. He pointed out that the two companies Revanth mentioned also secured mines in Takli, Jena, and Bellora in Maharashtra when the Congress-Shiv Sena government was in power.
“Telangana’s history will not forgive Revanth, his deputy Bhatti Vikramarka, and Central Minister Kishan Reddy for participating in auctioning the state’s coal mines. The people of Telangana will teach a strong lesson to these national parties for their betrayal at the right time,” KTR added.
A day earlier, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy assured that the Centre would protect the interests of the public sector miner Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
Speaking at the launch of the 10th round of coal mine auctions by the Ministry of Coal in Hyderabad, he emphasized that as a Central minister hailing from Telangana, he would do everything possible to ensure that Singareni does not suffer losses.
