Harish Rao accepts Revanth Reddy’s challenge, calls out Congress’ “Real Estate Politics”

Harish Rao said the Congress government was turning a genuine river rejuvenation project into a real estate venture, exploiting the people of Telangana in the process.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao has accepted Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s challenge to visit the oustees of the Musi River project and also Mallanna Sagar. He said the Congress government was turning a genuine river rejuvenation project into a real estate venture, exploiting the people of Telangana in the process.

“Let us go together – no security, no theatrics. You pick the time and date, or I’ll be ready by 9 am tomorrow. I will drive the vehicle and visit oustees of the Musi River project, followed by Mallanna Sagar rehabilitation colony and debate at Pochamma Sagar bund,” he dared.

Countering the Chief Minister, Harish Rao reiterated that the BRS was not opposed to the Musi River rejuvenation, but was opposed to the real estate projects of the Congress government. He demanded that the State government release a detailed project report for the project, obtain all permissions, rehabilitate those living in river bed by compensating them as per the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 brought by the then UPA government, and also avoid unnecessary displacement.

He reminded that the BRS government compensated the oustees of Mallanna Sagar and other projects taken up as per the Land Acquisition Act.

In a direct attack, Harish Rao said the Congress was distorting the Musi River rejuvenation into a beautification project aimed at benefitting real estate tycoons. “We are not against the Musi rejuvenation. We oppose your bulldozer policies and the real estate frenzy you have unleashed, affecting the poor and middle-class,” he said.

The former Minister questioned Revanth Reddy‘s presentation, stating that while the Chief Minister claimed that it was a rejuvenation project, the consultancy firm which prepared the presentation showcased AI-generated images of skyscrapers and bridges, comparing them to New York’s Times Square and London’s Thames River.

“Rejuvenation means cleaner waters and life sustainability, not high-tech glass towers and graphic presentations. Rather than taking up construction, the Chief Minister’s pet project began with destruction which is unacceptable,” he quipped, adding that the Congress deceived the public by prioritising “beautification” over true restoration of Musi River.

Highlighting the disparity between words and actions, Harish Rao pointed out that while the Chief Minister talked about demolishing homes in buffer zones, he allowed the construction of multi-storey malls in the same areas. He further questioned the absurd claims of the Congress leaders that such projects do not need environmental clearances.

The BRS legislator reiterated the party’s commitment to the true rejuvenation of Musi River and condemned the Congress for exploiting the people through reckless, self-serving projects. “Former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao‘s leadership initiated Musi rejuvenation. Revanth has turned it into a land-grabbing scheme,” he charged.

Stating that Revanth Reddy was trying to provoke people of erstwhile Nalgonda district with false promises, he demanded that if the former was committed to provide clean water to people of Nalgonda, he must first focus on stopping pollution of those waters due to release of industrial affluents into Musi River.

Former Ministers Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Koppula Eeshwar, V Srinivas Goud and others were also present.