Hyderabad: BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar demanded GO 17 cancellation, alleging that the procurement policy harms small contractors and weakens social justice safeguards.
Speaking at a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, he said the Congress government failed to implement promised reservations in contracts. He added that the manifesto committed 42% for BCs, 18% for SCs, and 12% for STs.
However, he said the government has not fulfilled these commitments even after two years in power. Therefore, he questioned the delay in implementing reservation policies.
Praveen Kumar alleged that GO 17 introduced national competitive bidding to favour select firms. He claimed that suppliers linked to ruling party leaders benefited from contracts related to schools and Gurukul institutions.
He said stringent eligibility criteria excluded smaller players from participation. These include solvency certificates ranging from ₹10 crore to ₹25 crore and other compliance conditions.
BRS raises GO 17 cancellation demand over procurement policy
As a result, he said small and medium contractors lost opportunities. He added that the policy disproportionately affected BC, SC, ST, and minority businesses.
Praveen Kumar described the contracts as a ₹2,000 crore irregularity. He alleged that authorities ignored High Court directions to amend the order.
He also referred to procurement policies in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. According to him, those states provide preference to local and marginalised communities.
He urged the Chief Minister to act immediately on GO 17 cancellation. He suggested announcing the decision on Ambedkar Jayanti to ensure fair access to contracts.
The BRS leader said such a move would restore opportunities for small contractors and align policy with social justice commitments.