Ponnam asks TG BJP leaders to question Centre on pending dues

Metro India News | Hyderabad

Minister for Transport and BC Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar on Thursday accused BJP leaders in Telangana of competing with one another in criticising the Congress government in an attempt to retain their political relevance amid internal differences within the party.“If BJP leaders are genuinely committed to protecting Telangana’s interests, they should go to Delhi and question Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead of criticising the State government,” he said in a statement.

The Minister questioned why Telangana BJP leaders were not raising issues concerning funds due to the State from the Centre, pending projects and approvals required for Telangana. He said it was their responsibility to exert pressure on the Union government to secure the funds, projects and clearances due to the State. Ponnam Prabhakar also asked BJP leaders to explain why funds and projects being sanctioned to BJP-ruled States were not being similarly extended to Telangana.

He said it was misplaced for BJP leaders to believe that they could retain their political relevance or attract the attention of the party’s central leadership merely by targeting the Congress government. As an Opposition party, the BJP should play a constructive role by raising Telangana’s rights and pressing the Centre on pending issues, rather than limiting itself to political criticism, he said.

The Minister also questioned why BJP leaders had remained silent when the erstwhile TRS government, which was in power in Telangana for 10 years, left behind several pending dues. He said the present Congress government was making payments regularly while also working to clear the arrears left by the previous administration. Ponnam Prabhakar further said that despite the BJP-led government being in power at the Centre for nearly 13 years, several promises made to Telangana, besides funds and projects due to the State, were still pending.