Hyderabad: State Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy has criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for ignoring Telangana in the Union Budget 2024–25, which she presented in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Reddy stated that the budget was politically motivated and designed to appease the BJP’s allies, JD (U) and TDP. He pointed out that while Bihar received Rs 41,000 crore and Andhra Pradesh got Rs 15,000 crore along with other benefits, Congress-ruled states, particularly Telangana, were neglected.
He emphasized that they are not against special funds being given to Andhra Pradesh but condemned the discrimination against Telangana. Reddy mentioned that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, along with a delegation of Telangana ministers, had submitted various requests to different ministries over the past seven months, but these pleas were ignored.
Reddy criticized the Finance Minister’s claim that the BJP government was making efforts to fulfill the commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. He highlighted that promises like the railway coach factory in Kazipet, a steel factory at Bayyaram, funds for Tribal University, and high-speed road and rail connectivity have not been fulfilled in the past ten years.
He questioned why Telangana is being deprived of special funds when states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are receiving them.
