Union Minister of Coal and Mines and Telangana-BJP Chief G Kishan Reddy on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's stance on the Musi riverfront beautification project, calling it one-sided and an injustice to the poor.
Addressing a press conference here, Reddy emphasised that the BJP opposes demolishing houses of the poor and has written to the Chief Minister to stop demolitions. The Union Minister also highlighted that 70 per cent of drainage water flows into Musi and urged resolving drainage issues before beautification. He questioned why houses built years ago are being demolished now, criticising the government's handling of drainage and drinking water problems in Hyderabad. "Revanth Reddy is behaving one-sidedly. His attitude towards poor people is injustice. I have talked about our party's stand and that poor people's houses should not be demolished. I have also written a letter earlier to the Chief Minister to stop the demolitions. But the CM didn't respond," the Union Minister said. "Earlier also, the BRS government formed a corporation for Musi beautification. They also did marking. But because of the people's protests, they withdrew it. BRS had laid the seed for this. Now Revanth Reddy is going with it. If you want to do beautification, build a retaining wall on both sides and do it. Now, you go for demolitions. When were these houses built? Was it built yesterday? It was built many years ago, during your earlier governments," he added. Reddy further warned that the government's actions may lead to its downfall if it continues to pursue demolitions. "The government, GHMC, and Hyderabad Metro water board have first merged all the lines into Musi. First, correct this. 40 per cent of Telangana people live in Hyderabad. There is a drainage problem and drinking water is mixed with drainage water in every street. First, resolve all these issues. If the government continues to pursue demolitions, then it may lead to its downfall," he said. The Union Minister said that the Congress government in Karnataka is not able to fulfil poll promises, while the regime in Telangana is also likely to fall into the same situation. "What happened to your guarantees and promises? You are diverting that now. Earlier, BRS did the same. Now Congress is doing the same. Both parties are one. In Karnataka, Congress gave guarantees, but they couldn't fulfil them instead the CM involved in corruption. In Telangana also, the same situation will come," he said. The state BJP chief also said 'RG and RR (indicating Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy) tax' is being collected in the state. "The government here is collecting RG tax and RR tax. Where is Rahul Gandhi now? Why are they frightening the people in the name of Musi beautification? Why is RG tax being collected in your name and your party's name?" he said. Earlier on Wednesday, G Kishan Reddy met families who were being relocated due to the Musi riverfront beautification project. He said that these colonies here are around 30-40 years old and that the poor people, by working hard, bought the land and made their houses here. Lashing out at Revanth Reddy, the BJP leader said that the people in the state did not vote for Congress to get their houses demolished. "These colonies here are around 30-40 years old. The poor people by working hard bought the land and made their houses here. This land was not given to them by the government. Today, Revanth Reddy is talking about big things like the beautification of the Musi riverfront and the demolition of the houses here. Earlier, KCR also had said the same thing. I want to tell Revanth Reddy that construct houses, not demolish them, and the Central government will help," he said. Warning the Chief Minister, he said, "Hyderabad did not vote for Congress so their houses are demolished. In the last 6 months, there has been a lot of corruption in Telangana. Revanth Reddy is looting money and sending it to Delhi. I warn Revanth Reddy that we will not let them demolish the houses here, we will fight and we are even ready to go to jail." (ANI)
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