Why Not Restore Consent for CBI to Probe KLIS? Asks N.V. Subhash

HYDERABAD: The ongoing war of words between the Congress and the BJP over a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) took another turn on Wednesday, with BJP spokesperson N.V. Subhash questioning the “double standards” of the Telangana government in withdrawing its consent.

Subhash questioned why the Congress government was not granting consent for the CBI to probe the alleged corruption in the KLIS, and accused the Congress of trying to shield the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.   

In a release on Wednesday, Subhash said that the Telangana government had withdrawn general consent for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October 2022, making it impossible to order an inquiry into the allegations.  

Responding to the comments of irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Subhash reiterated that the CBI will start a probe within 48 hours, if given consent.

He said, “As promised by the state president and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, we are ready to order an inquiry within 48 hours after the general consent is restored for the CBI. While an inquiry by a sitting judge takes a long time, the investigation by CBI may be completed within a short time.”

The Congress had demanded a CBI inquiry before the elections and is now going back on it, he said.