Hyderabad: Retaliating on his earlier statements, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday alleged that the Modi government was “protecting BRS leaders” involved in corruption cases.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of harassing Opposition leaders through Income Tax, CBI, and ED raids, the chief minister said, “He has not permitted to arrest of KCR in the Kaleshwaram scam or KTR in the Formula E case. The same Union government that conducts raids on political rivals is shielding those who looted public money.”
CM Revanth said that despite repeated requests, the Centre continues to ignore state government’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the alleged Rs 1 lakh crore irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project.
He also accused Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Verma of “deliberately stalling” KTR’s arrest in the Formula E case for the past two months.
“It is now clear that KCR and Modi are on one side, and Rahul Gandhi and I are on the other. KCR has always supported Modi at the Centre. Now, the BJP is seeking votes in the name of BRS in the Jubilee Hills by-election,” he said.
He took potshots at Union minister G Kishan Reddy’s criticism remarks of inducting former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin in the state Cabinet, asking, “Why is Kishan Reddy against Azharuddin’s appointment? Is it his personal fiefdom? What problem does he have with a minority leader becoming a minister?”
On his previous day’s remarks regarding Muslims, the chief minister said his statements were distorted and reiterated his government’s commitment to minority welfare. “The KCR party will soon merge with the BJP. I have been a secular leader since the beginning of my political career. Congress has always given opportunities to minorities – Congress means Muslims, and Muslims mean Congress,” he said.
