Farmers struggle for water, but state spends Rs 55 crore on Miss World event: KTR

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) hit out at state government for prioritizing beauty pageants over addressing the escalating crisis of farmer suicides in Telangana.

Speaking in the Assembly, KTR criticized the government’s decision to spend Rs 55 crore on events like Miss World while farmers struggle without drinking or irrigation water.

“When the state is reeling under distress, with farmers taking their lives, the government is busy organizing beauty contests. These events have no relevance or necessity,” KTR said, demanding that the government explain how such pageants generate jobs or revenue.

The BRS leader accused the Congress government of projecting them as grand international achievements despite their declining global significance. He also slammed the government for locking up the towering statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, a national symbol of pride, and questioned why it has been excluded from the tourism circuit.

“Why is Ambedkar being held captive behind locks? Will they open it at least on his birth anniversary when followers from across the country visit?” he asked. Highlighting the government’s contradictory stance, KTR pointed out that it scrapped the Rs 46 crore Formula-E event—intended to attract electronics investments—labeling it wasteful, yet spent Rs 55 crore on beauty pageants.

He alleged that the unilateral cancellation of Formula-E without Cabinet approval cost the state exchequer Rs 46 crore, calling it a “foolish decision.” KTR noted that Formula-E had spurred significant investments in the electronics sector in districts like Zahirabad, Rangareddy, Vikarabad, and Mahabubnagar, even drawing interest from companies like Tesla.

The BRS leader accused the government of double standards in its tourism policy, questioning why leasing the Outer Ring Road for 33 years was deemed wrong, while it now plans to lease public lands and assets for 99 years. He criticized the Congress party for its past opposition to the Outer Ring Road deal, alleging it now follows a hypocritical approach.

Refuting Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao’s claim that little was achieved in tourism, KTR listed the BRS government’s accomplishments, including securing UNESCO recognition for Ramappa Temple and developing attractions like Qutub Shahi Tombs and Mozamjahi Market in Hyderabad. He also highlighted the completion of the Buddhavanam project, initiated by former minister Jana Reddy, and tourism spots like Ranganayaka Sagar under the Kaleshwaram project.

KTR emphasized that the BRS hosted global events like the World Economic Forum and Global Entrepreneur Summit, attended by figures like PM Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump. He added that tourism projects were advanced in Kollapur and the Kaloji Auditorium in Warangal was nearly completed under BRS rule, with the Congress government now claiming credit for the final touches.

In a nod to cultural preservation, KTR said the BRS provided jobs to 550 artists through the unique Cultural Sarathi initiative and revived Telangana’s suppressed language and dialect. “We breathed life into our identity, while this government locks up symbols of justice,” he concluded.