Congress govt. shielding KCR family on KLIP row: Bandi Sanjay Kumar

Alleging massive corruption in Kaleshwaram Lift IRRIGATION PROJECT (KLIP) under the previous BRS government led by KCR, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar hit back at the ruling Congress dispensation accusing it of being a shield for KCR family.

“Some people are spreading false propaganda that the BJP has changed its stance on Kaleshwaram and colluded with BRS. Our party’s stand on the Kaleshwaram project is very clear, and our demand is for a CBI inquiry into the Kaleshwaram project,” Mr. Sanjay told the media in Karimnagar on Sunday.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself said that the Kaleshwaram Project became an ATM for KCR’s family. That is BJP’s stand too. If any party leader speaks against the BJP’s stand, it’s wrong. The high command will deal with them,” he said in reply to a query.

Has Congress leader Rahul Gandhi forgotten his earlier demand for a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram fiasco during the last Assembly elections? he asked.

“We don’t trust the Congress government’s current investigation into Kaleshwaram project. Our main demand remains a CBI inquiry,” he added.

Citing the copies of the Central Water Commission (CWC) report, he said the CWC reported that Tummidihatti has water availability of 165 tmc ft based on the scientific assessment of the data from the past 33 years (1986 to 2013).

“But those at the highest echelons of power in the previous BRS government altered the design and looted public money by inflating the ₹38,000 crore project to ₹1.2 lakh crore,“ he charged. “The project failed to bring any tangible results.”

If BRS claims that the Kaleshwaram project was built with Cabinet approval and sub-committee recommendations, why aren’t they making those documents public? Mr. Sanjay asked.

Taking a dig at KCR, he said that Mr. Rao, who called himself a top engineer, alone made all decisions including on Kaleshwaram during his tenure as Chief Minister.

Stating that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) is a statutory body, the Union Minister said the BJP’s view is that any future action on the Kaleshwaram project must be guided by the expert committee report.