Telangana Congress Chief Accuses Harish Rao of Lies, Challenges KCR on Banakacherla Debate

Speedy Summary

• Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and MLC B. Mahesh Kumar Goud accused BRS leader T. Harish Rao of misleading the public regarding recent Telangana-Andhra Pradesh talks in Delhi about river water disputes.
• Mr. Goud emphasized that Union Minister C.R. Patil and officials from both states had clearly outlined the agenda and outcomes of the meeting during a press conference.
• He criticized Mr. Rao for making unsubstantiated claims while ignoring publicly available facts presented by Chief minister Revanth reddy following the discussions.
• chief Minister Revanth Reddy challenged former Chief Minister KCR and BRS leaders to an open debate on water disputes in either the assembly or KCR’s farmhouse, but no response has been given yet.
• TPCC alleged that prior assurances made by KCR as Chief Minister led to Andhra Pradesh advancing irrigation projects like Rayalaseema lift irrigation and Banakacherla, which negatively impacted Telangana’s interests.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Water-sharing agreements remain one of the most contentious issues between neighboring states, particularly in regions reliant on agriculture as part of their economic backbone, such as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The lack of consensus or clarity leads to competing narratives among political parties-each vying for trust from voters ahead of state elections.

Mahesh Kumar Goud’s statements reflect growing political friction within Telangana over natural resource management, historically tied to regional identity since state bifurcation. His criticisms underscore apprehensions about decisions taken under previous governments possibly undermining current negotiations.

An open debate could foster openness among stakeholders while easing public doubts regarding water security-a vital issue echoed repeatedly across party lines in numerous electoral campaigns over recent years.

Read more: AP-Telangana resolve key river water issues