Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday attacked the BRS for moving court against the inquiry panel formed to look into alleged irregularities in the power sector during the previous regime instead of facing the probe to prove their honesty.
The BRS leaders feared that their “loot” would be exposed, he said in the Legislative Assembly, which witnessed a war of words between the ruling Congress and former energy minister and BRS member G Jagadish Reddy during a debate on the power sector.
Revanth Reddy said the government had ordered the inquiry into the power purchased from Chhattisgarh and construction of Bhadradri and Yadadri power plants during the previous regime after the BRS member had sought the probe earlier.
“While conducting the inquiry chronologically, he (commission chairman) asked for details from the then concerned minister and the then chief minister. When the commission summoned them, their honesty would have come to the fore had they appeared before it as a responsible citizen and presented their arguments before the panel,” he said.
Without appearing before the commission, the BRS leaders went to high court opposing the commission and its head. The court rejected their argument and the BRS leaders approached the Supreme Court. It favoured continuing the inquiry, while holding that quashing the probe is not possible, he said.
The apex court sought the state government’s view on changing the head of the commission and the government had agreed to it. The new head of the commission would be appointed by Monday evening, the chief minister said.
Revanth Reddy alleged “fraud” in the execution of civil works in the construction of a power plant.
The BRS claimed credit for improving the power sector in Telangana, but it was former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy and the then UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who ensured, at the time of bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2014, that Telangana does not face a crisis in the power sector, he said.
The power sharing was done on the basis of power consumption between Telangana and residuary (present) Andhra Pradesh, though assets and liabilities were shared on the basis of population in 42:58 ratio between the states. Thus, it was Jaipal Reddy, then PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi who saved Telangana from facing a power crisis, he added.
Jagadish Reddy dismissed the allegations regarding execution of civil works and defended the previous BRS government’s decisions in the power sector.
On the inquiry commission, he said it is a right as per law even for a normal accused to seek justice when he felt aggrieved.
During the debate today, AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi alleged that ‘mamool’ (unofficial collection of money) “goes to” every police station.
He claimed that an ACP-rank officer called him up and sought some (monetary) contribution to build a police station in his area.
Alleging high-handedness by police against innocent and poor people in the old city during night hours in recent times, he said the police should take action against the perpetrators of crimes instead of troubling innocent people.
He hoped that the government would give instructions to police and prevent such “high-handedness” against innocent people.
Akbaruddin Owaisi also said he would be forced to move the court against such harsh police behaviour if no action is taken.
Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with Akbaruddin Owaisi’s comments.
In a statement here, Kumar said it is shameful to speak in a manner that hurts the morale of the police. If a policeman makes any mistake, it is wrong to attribute it to the police system, he said.
The BJP leader further said police should definitely take action against “MIM goondas” who violate traffic rules in the old city.
During the debate which continued till late in the night, BRS member P Sabita Indra Reddy expressed concern over the law and order situation and cited a media report that one murder took place per day during June.
State Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the reported murders do not constitute a threat to law and order and such incidents might have happened due to family or other reasons.
The murders don’t reflect any failure of the government, he said, adding that the government would take tough measures to maintain law and order.
