Hyderabad: On Saturday, G. Kishan Reddy, the Union Minister for Coal and Mines, spoke to the media about current political affairs, elections, and governance challenges.
He criticized the Congress ‘Vote Chori’ campaign, stating that the BJP-led NDA is gaining strength in the Bihar elections. Reddy accused Congress of having no clear direction or agenda. He questioned the rationale behind Rahul Gandhi‘s padayatra, suggesting that even Congress leaders are confused about its purpose. Reddy dismissed Gandhi’s claims about voter registration issues, emphasizing that duplicate entries are resolved through proper verification. “In Hyderabad, many people reportedly have two votes. If systematic checks are done, three to four lakh duplicate votes might be found,” he said, calling the claims exaggerated.
Reddy defended the BJP’s proposed anti-corruption law. This law would require public officials to resign if they face charges with a potential sentence of over five years and are jailed for more than 30 days, irrespective of their political ties. He argued that if Ambedkar had foreseen corrupt individuals running the government from jail, he would have included such measures in the Constitution. Only those worried about exposure oppose the bill, which aims to ensure integrity in public office. He mentioned that BJP governments in 20 states should be concerned, but currently, Congress rules in only three states, with their political future uncertain. Dismissing concerns of political misuse of the new law, Reddy noted that state police operate under Congress’s control, and courts decide based on case merits. He added that if one person faces charges, others from the same party can replace them, ensuring stability. The act is designed to ensure accountability.
Discussing state issues, Reddy accused the government of power misuse in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. He referenced TV debates where retired engineers pointed out construction flaws. “Safety officials can identify technical defects, but not corruption,” he said. Previously, Congress demanded a CBI probe when in opposition, but now they have changed their stance.
Reddy also spoke about the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election, alleging internal maneuvers to influence results. He predicted that if elections were held today in the three Congress-ruled states, the party would likely lose.
