Godavarikhani: BRS working president K Tarakarama Rao on Wednesday accused the Congress government of turning Singareni into a hub of corruption and irregularities during its three-year rule. He made the allegations at the ‘Singareni Karmika Garjana’, a public meeting that the BRS and TBGKS organised at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Godavarikhani. The organisers held the meeting on the theme of Singareni’s security and the future of its workers.
KTR alleged that the Congress neglected workers’ welfare, failed to implement its promises and took decisions that put the company’s future in doubt. He also accused the government of moving towards the privatisation of Singareni. KTR spoke for 60 minutes, while TBGKS president Miryala Rajireddy presided over the meeting.
Thousands of workers packed the stadium, arriving from Peddapalli district and six districts across the coal belt. Many came on bikes, in cars and in special vehicles, waving pink flags and chanting “Jai KCR” and “Jai KTR” along the way. The meeting was scheduled for 5 pm, but the stadium filled up well before that.
The large turnout came a day after the announcement of the profit share for workers. When KTR arrived, the crowd greeted him with applause and slogans of “Jai Telangana”, “Jai KCR” and “Jai KTR”.
KTR contrasted Congress rule with KCR’s ten-year tenure. He said Singareni moved from losses to profits under KCR, who gave priority to workers and the welfare of their families. He added that the KCR government provided jobs through compassionate appointments and raised the workers’ share in profits.
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At one point, KTR asked the crowd whether the line “Congress came, power went” was correct, and workers raised their hands in agreement. He then asked who looted Singareni, who was behind the “coalmaal, golmaal” and who planned to swallow Rs 30,000 crore in the Naini tenders. To each of these questions, including who caused the fall in production, workers shouted “Revanth”.
KTR also asked who had saved Singareni from the “anaconda of corruption” in the past and who had stood by the workers. The crowd answered with chants of “Jai KCR”. He said the BRS would not spare the Congress for betraying workers, adding that the government’s words could not be trusted and that there was no option but to fight. Workers raised their hands and shouted that they stood with him.
Recalling the struggles and sacrifices of Singareni workers in the statehood movement, KTR alleged that the company was declining under Congress rule. He questioned who was behind this conspiracy and accused the Congress of staging dramas to push privatisation. He further alleged that the government was shifting the blame for its coal production failures onto Singareni and that irregularities in tenders had led to the loot of thousands of crores of rupees.
KTR said KCR alone could restore Singareni’s past glory and protect the company. He told workers that Singareni would survive only if KCR became chief minister again and urged them to hoist the BRS flag. Workers raised their fists in support and vowed to teach the Congress a lesson.