Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao accused Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy of attempting to shield family business interests amid corruption and illegal mining allegations.
He made the remarks while speaking to the media in Nagapur village of Wanaparthy district on Thursday. He said the minister’s statements in the Assembly reflected an attempt to divert attention from serious allegations.
Harish Rao said Ponguleti spoke in a personal capacity rather than as a cabinet minister. He alleged that the minister was defending business interests linked to Raghava Constructions instead of addressing governance issues.
He stated that the remarks made in the Assembly had raised further questions about the government’s position. According to him, the response indicated a lack of clarity on the allegations.
Referring to the Harish Rao Ponguleti allegations, he said attempts to counter criticism relied on rhetoric rather than factual responses. He added that such exchanges had intensified the political dispute.
Harish Rao Ponguleti allegations escalate political row
Harish Rao further claimed that the minister’s statements indirectly brought attention to wider concerns within the government. He said references to other senior leaders had broadened the scope of scrutiny.
He also cited remarks attributed to Revanth Reddy, stating that issues related to Raghava Constructions had been acknowledged in the Assembly. He said this included mention of irregularities identified by officials and penalties imposed.
In addition, he referred to comments by the Mining Minister regarding delays in permissions. He said these remarks suggested that required approvals may not have been in place during certain operations.
Harish Rao said the Harish Rao Ponguleti allegations required a detailed response from the government. He maintained that the issue warranted further examination based on statements made in the Assembly.