People had no access to government during BRS rule, says Minister Ponguleti

Hyderabad: Minister for Revenue, Housing, Information and Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy alleged that people had no access to the government during the BRS rule. He claimed that even Ministers remained inaccessible to the public throughout the party’s 10-year tenure.

The Minister participated in the ‘Prajalatho Mukhamukhi’ (Face-to-face with the public) programme at Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday. He received petitions from the public and issued on-the-spot directions to district collectors to resolve several grievances.

Later, addressing a press conference, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had directed one Cabinet Minister to interact with the public every week after the Congress came to power. He said the initiative aimed to hear grievances and ensure their timely resolution.

Meanwhile, the Minister said most petitions submitted during Wednesday’s programme related to housing. He added that people were hopeful of owning a house under the present government.

BRS rule contrasted with Congress public outreach

Further, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said the government had sanctioned seven lakh houses. Of these, 4.5 lakh were approved in the first phase and 2.5 lakh in the second phase.

He said the government was constructing Indiramma Towers by treating each Assembly constituency as a unit. According to him, the project would allow poor families to continue living in the places where they were born and raised. He added that each house would be worth between ₹40 lakh and ₹1 crore. Beneficiaries would also receive a share in the land attached to the apartments.

The Minister said the government was implementing the Indiramma Towers project on a pilot basis in 16 Assembly constituencies. He advised those who had earlier applied for Indiramma houses to submit fresh applications through MeeSeva, WhatsApp or the official website for consideration under the new scheme.

Meanwhile, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy assured that the government would resolve all land-related applications that could be addressed under existing rules.

Separately, the Minister condemned the Centre’s handling of protests over the alleged NEET examination paper leak. He alleged that the lathi-charge on peaceful protesters in New Delhi, as well as Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, reflected the Union government’s “authoritarian attitude.”

He demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the issue.