Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has strongly criticised former minister and BJP MP Eatala Rajender for making what he describes as false statements before the Justice Ghosh Commission concerning the Kaleshwaram project’s construction.

He remarked that Eatala Rajender's statement to the Justice PC Ghosh Commission was filled with untruths and indicated that the former minister had fabricated various claims.

In remarks to the media at the Secretariat on Saturday, Tummala Nageswara Rao asserted that the statements made by Eatala Rajender to the press were significantly misleading. He questioned whether the BJP MP's statement was made inadvertently or if there were certain conditions that necessitated such a comment.

Tummala also criticised Eatala Rajender for involving his name in the Kaleshwaram controversy and asserted that the BJP MP would not be able to deceive the people with falsehoods for much longer.

"Eatala Rajender referred to my involvement as a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee during the tenure of the BRS government. However, it's important to clarify that the Cabinet Sub-Committee was not established to oversee the Kaleshwaram project. The sub-committee was created 15 days after the Medigadda Barrage approval to assess ongoing projects in Telangana," Tummala said.

The purpose of the sub-committee was to evaluate whether contractors would complete the pending projects at the agreed rates. It aimed to determine the necessary actions if the work was completed or what decisions the government should make if it was not completed, he said.

The Minister further emphasised that the Sub-Committee did not authorise the Kaleshwaram project’s construction and, in fact, never provided a report regarding it.    Tummala further explained that the Kaleswaram Project did not undergo cabinet approval and was never presented for such approval during the term of the previous BRS administration headed by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

“I have no involvement in the development of the Kaleswaram project. Eatala Rajender is unjustly involving me in this controversy. I intend to independently approach the Justice PC Ghosh Commission to present all pertinent information,” stated Tummala Nageswara Rao.

The Minister expressed that throughout his 43 years in politics, he has never committed any wrongdoing. He expressed discomfort and skepticism upon reviewing the statements made by Eatala during the Kaleshwaram Commission hearings.