Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao demanded an investigation by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the alleged Singareni (Naini) coal block scam, citing allegations of large-scale irregularities in Singareni and the imposition of arbitrary rules such as the site visitation certificate.
He also demanded that the govt cancel the nine tenders floated by Singareni.Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday, KTR questioned why Union coal minister Kishan Reddy remained silent despite Singareni being a joint venture of the Centre and the state, especially when it is facing severe financial losses, and allegations have surfaced over tenders. Kishan Reddy should also respond to the issue, he said.Alleging that former minister T Harish Rao was summoned by the SIT as part of diversion politics, KTR said the BRS would continue to question the Congress party’s failures in governance and in fulfilling its promises. He added that Harish appeared before the SIT as a responsible leader.“Even if 1,000 such notices are issued, and the SIT conducts 100 more investigations, we will continue to question the govt. Our party is the symbol of Telangana’s self-respect, strength, and voice. Even if notices are issued to KCR, we will not be afraid. No matter how many leaks are given to create news, we won’t be intimidated. We have faith in the judiciary and will fight in the courts,” he asserted.The senior BRS leader said the Congress govt was synonymous with scams and that whenever a scam was exposed, it tried to divert the attention of the people. “In the entire phone tapping issue, there was not a single official statement.
How long will the govt survive on mere leaks? Without any evidence or official information, how long will you continue these antics, Revanth Reddy?” KTR asked.He said the Supreme Court had dismissed the illegal phone tapping case against Harish Rao. However, the govt argued in the apex court with the malicious intent of sending Harish to jail, using public money, he alleged. “Harish Rao was summoned by the SIT as the chief minister’s relatives were exposed in the coal scam.
If the information exposed by Harish Rao about the coal scam is wrong, why haven’t the concerned minister and Singareni officials say anything so far?” he asked.KTR further alleged that, for the first time, tenders were awarded at values higher than the estimates. “The govt introduced a rule to loot funds and money from Singareni, treating it like a golden goose. Some leaders intimidated other companies and ensured tenders were submitted at inflated values,” he alleged.
