Bandi Sanjay slams Congress over Musi project, criticises demolition of poor people's homes

HYDERABAD: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay criticised the Congress government for demolishing the homes of the poor under the guise of the Musi River rejuvenation project.

He accused the government of using the project, with an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 lakh crore, as a means for large-scale corruption and likened it to an ATM for their financial needs. Sanjay highlighted the state's financial crisis, saying the government is struggling to pay salaries to its employees and is now planning to incur more debt through this project.

He pointed out that significant funds had already been spent over the last three decades, including money from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for Musi River's cleaning and beautification, but no substantial changes were visible. Sanjay condemned the current government for further burdening the public with loans, which would eventually be paid through increased taxes.

Citing the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) survey, Sanjay expressed concern over Telangana’s financial situation. He noted that the average debt per family in the state is Rs 1,29,599, which is Rs 40,000 higher than the national average, with 92% of families in Telangana under debt compared to the national average of 52%. While clarifying that the BJP was not opposed to Moosi’s rejuvenation, he emphasised that the party was against additional debt and the demolition of poor people’s homes during a time of severe financial crisis.

In protest of the Congress government's actions, he announced a large-scale demonstration on October 25 at Indira Park in Hyderabad, led by BJP state president and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy. Sanjay urged Musi victims and the public to participate in the protest.