Harish Rao questions Congress over denial of Kaleshwaram PowerPoint in Assembly

Hyderabad: The Kaleshwaram project controversy on Saturday set off heated exchanges between the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the ruling Congress during the first day of the Telangana Assembly session. The clash centered on the BRS demand to present a PowerPoint inside the House to explain what it claimed were the real facts behind the multi-crore irrigation project. The government, however, refused permission.

Former minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao strongly objected to the refusal while addressing the media in the Assembly lobby. He asked why the Congress government was reluctant if it had nothing to fear. “We want to present facts before the House and the people. Why is the government stopping us?” he questioned. Harish Rao alleged that the refusal itself showed the ruling party’s nervousness, and insisted that the BRS only intended to explain the project’s details transparently.

Sridhar Babu says BRS leaders responsible for mistakes

Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu, who also interacted with the press, countered the argument, asserting that it was the BRS leaders themselves who committed serious mistakes in the construction and execution of the Kaleshwaram project. “If they made errors, what is the need for a PowerPoint now?” he asked. Sridhar Babu clarified that the Assembly functioned by procedure, and members who wished to speak on any subject would be given time as per the rules.

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, built during the BRS government, has been under scrutiny after technical failures led to damage in key components, including pump houses. The Congress has often charged the previous administration with irregularities and poor design. The latest clash in the Assembly highlighted how the project remains a politically sensitive issue, with the opposition pressing to defend its record and the government seeking to underline alleged lapses.