Union Minister Calls for Debate on Telangana Funds
A major political challenge has been thrown into Telangana’s public sphere with Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy calling for an open debate on the central government’s financial contribution to the state.1 In a direct and assertive move, the Minister has publicly challenged both Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) to join him in a transparent discussion to clarify the financial facts before the people of the state.2
The Minister, who currently holds the Coal and Mines portfolio, alleged that the leaders of both the Congress (the current ruling party) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS, the previous ruling party) have consistently engaged in “misinformation campaigns.” He claimed that during election cycles and public addresses, both parties have unjustly accused the NDA-led Central Government of neglecting Telangana’s development and holding back necessary funds and projects.3 This narrative, according to the Union Minister, is completely false and politically motivated to gain electoral advantage.
To counter these claims and establish the truth, Mr. Kishan Reddy asserted that the Central Government has poured a massive sum of over ₹9 lakh crore into the development of Telangana during the nine-year period between 2014 and 2023.4 This substantial figure, he stated, covers a wide range of developmental sectors across the state. The Minister pointed to a detailed presentation he had previously given, which outlined the central grants, assistance, and infrastructure projects implemented during the nine years.5
The Union Minister has formally requested the Press Club of Hyderabad to facilitate this proposed open debate.6 He emphasized that the debate should focus on the year-wise and sector-wise allocations from the Centre to Telangana.7 This would include Central grants, various forms of assistance, and the progress of flagship national schemes and Centrally-sponsored programmes that benefit the people of the state directly.8 The goal is to place verifiable facts before the citizens, ensuring transparency and public awareness.
This public challenge is an attempt to shift the narrative from political blame-game to one based on hard data and accountability. The Minister stressed that the citizens of Telangana deserve clarity on which government—state or central—has been the primary contributor to the state’s progress and welfare since its formation. He argued that the continuous questioning of the Centre’s role, and the portrayal of the Union Minister as an impediment to the state’s growth, necessitates this comprehensive public disclosure.9 The call for a debate puts pressure on both the Chief Minister and the former Chief Minister to respond to the substantial figures quoted and to address the allegations of spreading politically motivated falsehoods about the state’s financial relationship with the Centre.10 This move is expected to intensify the political battleground as all parties seek to establish credibility and trust with the electorate.
