Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah release a white paper detailing the Centre’s commitments, fund allocations and development projects for Telangana.
Reacting to Shah’s Hyderabad public meeting and democracy protection padayatra, Goud questioned the BJP-led Union government’s record over the past 12 years. He said the Home Minister should address Telangana’s pending promises rather than confine his visit to political speeches and rallies.
Goud sought answers on state bifurcation commitments, central grants, industrial projects, employment, farmers’ welfare and electoral roll revisions. He also questioned the BJP’s criticism of the Congress government and accused the Centre of discriminating against Telangana in financial allocations.
Mahesh Kumar Goud questions Telangana’s pending promises
Goud demanded details of the commitments fulfilled by the Union government since Telangana’s formation. He specifically raised the proposed Kazipet railway coach factory and Bayyaram steel plant, seeking clarification on their status.
Additionally, he questioned the Centre’s position on granting national project status to irrigation projects in Telangana. The TPCC president sought details of funds released to the state, including its share of taxes and central grants.
He asked whether the Union government had treated Telangana fairly in financial allocations and development assistance. Goud also demanded information on employment opportunities created for young people and measures taken to support farmers.
He said the BJP leadership should explain what the Centre had delivered before criticising the Congress administration. According to Goud, Telangana residents wanted answers concerning their rights, development, employment and welfare rather than political speeches.
He maintained that Shah’s visit would serve little purpose without addressing these issues. The TPCC president also questioned the BJP over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the removal of eligible voters’ names.
He said voting rights formed the foundation of democracy and required protection during electoral roll revisions. Goud referred to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and demanded safeguards against the wrongful deletion of eligible voters.
He argued that the electoral system must ensure that no qualified voter loses the right to vote during the revision exercise. The Congress leader said his party had repeatedly raised concerns about alleged voter list irregularities and vote theft.
He criticised the BJP for attacking Congress over these allegations instead of addressing the questions raised. Goud demanded a clear response from the BJP leadership on electoral roll integrity and voter protection.
He said claims about protecting democracy should also address concerns involving voting rights and electoral procedures. Goud rejected the BJP’s allegations concerning an alleged “RR tax” in Telangana, describing them as baseless.
He accused the party of making political allegations without addressing the state’s development requirements. The TPCC president claimed that the Congress government was implementing welfare programmes despite what he described as discriminatory central funding.
He cited initiatives concerning farmers, women, young people and economically disadvantaged sections. Meanwhile, he accused the BJP of concentrating on criticism of Congress rather than addressing public concerns.
Goud also claimed that the BJP’s political approach would not succeed in Telangana. He predicted that the party could lose its existing eight seats in the next election. The statement represented his political assessment.
He further accused the BJP of raising Telangana-related issues primarily during election periods while neglecting them afterwards. Goud criticised what he described as political appeals based on religion and emotion.
TPCC president also targets BRS leadership
Goud extended his criticism to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), accusing its previous government of increasing Telangana’s debt burden. He alleged that the BRS administration had failed to resolve public problems and had promoted family-centred governance.
The Congress leader also claimed that public suspicions persisted about an informal political understanding between the BJP and BRS. However, he offered these claims as political allegations rather than presenting evidence of a formal arrangement.
Goud alleged that the BJP was attempting to occupy the political space left by the weakening of BRS. He maintained that Telangana voters understood the political strategies of both parties.
The TPCC president said Congress would continue raising issues concerning state development, public welfare and constitutional rights. Returning to Telangana’s pending promises, Goud demanded a comprehensive white paper on the Union government’s contribution to the state.
He sought specific information on fulfilled commitments, released funds, employment generation and assistance to farmers. He also demanded answers to Congress’s concerns about electoral roll revisions and the protection of eligible voters.
Goud said the Union Home Minister should address these matters during his Hyderabad visit instead of focusing on allegations against Congress. He maintained that public meetings and padayatras could not substitute for explanations concerning the Centre’s record.
The TPCC president said Congress would continue pressing for Telangana’s rights, state development and protection of democratic institutions. He also reiterated the party’s commitment to safeguarding voting rights and questioning the BJP and BRS over their political positions.