AMRUT Tenders a Litmus Test for Modi, BJP Govt: KTR

Hyderabad: The BRS on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action and prevent abuse of Central funds in implementing the Amrut scheme in Telangana, with the party working president K.T. Rama Rao calling it “a litmus test to the BJP government at the Centre.”

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Rama Rao said Modi had highlighted the ‘Rahul-Revanth Tax’ and corruption in Telangana. “Modi said Telangana has become an ATM for the Congress. Despite that, he has not taken any steps to address corruption in the state,” Rama Rao said.

Rama Rao said the BRS had submitted what he said was proof about the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) tenders to Union minister M.L. Khattar on Monday and briefed him on how Shodha Constructions, owned by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s brother-in-law, was awarded a Rs 1,327-crore contract in the guise of a joint venture with Indian Hume Pipe company. The latter had declared that it was doing just 20 per cent of the contracted work, Rama Rao claimed.

The BRS leader said Khattar had assured him that the Centre would look into the charges and sought time till November 25 when the Parliament session begins. “If no action comes forth, our MPs in the Rajya Sabha will seek to hold the BJP government accountable on the issue,” Rama Rao said.