BRS Slams Government Over Water Rights “Betrayal”
The political climate in Telangana has intensified as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led government. Senior BRS leaders have accused the current administration of a “historic betrayal” regarding the state’s river water rights. The controversy follows recent developments in the Supreme Court concerning the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar project, where the state’s legal strategy has come under heavy scrutiny.
According to BRS MLA and former minister T. Harish Rao, the state government deliberately filed a “legally weak” petition in the apex court. He alleged that this move was a calculated effort to allow Andhra Pradesh to proceed with contested irrigation works without legal hurdles. The BRS leadership claims that by withdrawing the initial writ petition and opting for a fresh civil suit, the government has essentially granted a “Sankranti gift” to the neighbouring state at the expense of Telangana’s farmers.
The opposition party further stated that a civil suit would involve multiple states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, potentially dragging the legal battle on for decades. During this prolonged delay, they fear that crucial water resources will be diverted, leaving Telangana’s irrigation projects in a state of uncertainty. BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao echoed these concerns, stating that the government is neglecting vital projects like the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme to avoid political friction.
In response, the state government maintained that its legal transition to a suit under Article 131 was based on the Supreme Court’s own suggestions for a more comprehensive remedy. However, the BRS remains firm in its stance, calling for immediate transparency. The party has warned of large-scale protests across the state if the government fails to protect Telangana’s rightful share of Godavari and Krishna waters, promising to take the “betrayal” narrative directly to the people.
