Free power supply to farm sector patent of Congress, claims Revanth Reddy

HYDERABAD: 'Free power to farmers' is merely a slogan in Telangana, said TPCC President Revanth Reddy on Thursday while accusing the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government of looting Rs 8,000 crore under the guise of free power.

While addressing the media at his Jubliee Hills residence on Thursday, Revanth Reddy said, "Some experts asked questions about the Telangana government's policies during the meet and greet program in America.

We were trying to explain the policies during the programme, and we also cleared their doubts. We also attempted to explain the 24-hour power supply in technical terms. The BRS party edited our video and attempted to mislead people."

He recalled that KCR was a key player in the Telugu Desam party during the Bashir Bagh firings. He said that the leadership of the Congress Party observed the conditions of the farmers and promised free electricity as well as all the cases registered against the farmers to be withdrawn. He said that YS Rajasekhar Reddy was elected as the Chief Minister in the subsequent elections. He said that YSR had signed the free electricity file during the swearing ceremony. He clarified that the history of providing quality electricity along with free electricity belonged to the Congress party.

"The Congress announced the issue of free electricity in the 2004 election manifesto. KCR is the person who made Telugu Desam say that it is not possible to provide free electricity, KCR is responsible for killing the farmers in the electricity movement on that day," Revanth said.

He said that the KCR government claimed to have spent Rs 16,000 crore on free electricity for farmers. In reality, they only provided electricity to small and marginal farms for eight hours. As per BRS MLAs and leaders, free electricity was provided on agricultural land and farms for 10 to 12 hours.

"In fact, KCR is indulging in corruption under the pretence of providing 24 hour electricity.”

Telangana was buying power at a rate that was not accessible anywhere else, and that they were doing it without consulting the Centre,said the TPCC chief.

Revanth Reddy claimed that the BRS leadership misappropriated Rs 8,000 crore of the 16,000 crore allocated for free power every year. He demanded that Chief Minister KCR make public every detail of free electricity distribution to farmers round the clock. He said the government was supplying power to farmers for not more than 8 hours, while 12 hours supply was being given to farm houses owned by BRS leaders. Small and marginal farmers were badly affected, he said.

He said the Congress party had launched the free electricity scheme, as well as assisted farmers in every manner and made agriculture a festival. It was only because of the Congress Party Telangana now enjoyed a continuous electricity supply, he added.

The TPCC chief, who also demanded an open debate on the supply of 24-hour power to the farming sector at any power sub-station in the State, dared BRS senior leaders KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao to choose the debate venue.

He said, along with free electricity, many agricultural implements were provided at a subsidised rate by the Congress party. The Congress leadership took precautions to avoid loss in the matter of electricity, after the state bifurcation. Sonia Gandhi took steps to get more electricity to Telangana based on consumption, he added.