Uproar in Telangana Assembly for Formula E case against BRS leader KTR

Hyderabad: The Telangana Legislative Assembly was adjourned for 15 minutes on Friday following uproar as opposition BRS members sought a debate on the case registered against the party's working president K T Rama Rao in the Formula-E car race issue. They also raised slogans.

BRS wants debate on Formula E

Soon after the Assembly met for the day, the BRS members sought a debate on the matter, but Speaker G Prasad Kumar wanted to take up debate on the Bhu Bharati bill concerning land administration. Kumar pointed out that the issue being raised by the BRS members concerned an individual but the bill pertains to the entire state.

BRS MLA T Harish Rao alleged the Congress government was seeking to defame Rama Rao and trouble the party. Claiming that the case filed against Rama Rao was false, Harish Rao said the former, who is also MLA, should be given to opportunity to explain himself in the House. Harish Rao criticized the Congress government for accusing the previous BRS government and former Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) of corruption without any evidence. "If the government is sincere and courageous, let's have an open conversation. Let the facts be known," he said.

Harish Rao supported KTR’'s choice to host the Formula-E event, highlighting its goal of enhancing Telangana's economy and international standing. He accused Congress of fabricating incidents to divert attention from its unmet promises and problems, such as the arrest of farmers in Lagacherl.

The Speaker said Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu, who was not present, has been asked to come to the House to state the government's stance, over whether the debate can be taken up or not. The Speaker claimed that the Bhu Bharati Bill was relevant to the entire state, while the Formula-E issue only concerned one person.

Also Read: Uproar in Telangana Assembly for Formula E case against BRS leader KTR

Governor has agreed for investigation

Ruling Congress MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy said the question of discussing the issue in the House does not rise following Governor's the nod to register the case against the BRS working president and the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) having taken up the investigation. The attempt of BRS members is to confuse people through the debate in the House, Prakash Reddy said.

KTR denies charges

KTR denied any corruption in organizing the Formula E race and called the Congress-led government's ACB case against him baseless and politically motivated. KTR said that he will prove that he is innocent.

Also Read: Formula E: Under fire for race fiasco, Arvind Kumar says acted with KTR’s approval

House adjourned for 15 minutes

The Speaker then took up the government bill and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy started speaking on it.

As the commotion continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes. BRS MLA's protested against the fabricated case against KTR by waving placards and wearing black badges outside the BRS Legislative Party office.

The ACB on Thursday registered a case against Rama Rao over alleged payments, some of it in foreign currency allegedly without approvals, to conduct Formula-E race in Hyderabad during the previous BRS regime. KTR is the son of BRS supremo and former Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Goud says evidence is for court to decide

Telangana Pradesh Congress committee president and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud says, "The case against KTR is legitimate. There is evidence of irregularities in the Formula E race. The case is legally registered and it has to be decided in court, not in the Assembly."

Goud says, "HMDA had to pay Rs 8 crores as income tax for the illegal transfer of money to the Income Tax department. The agreement to pay Rs 600 crore in three years was made with KTR's permission, not the rules of the government. A special 2.8 km track was set up around Hussain Sagar for the Formula E car race which was against the rules."

Goud said that the Hyderabad brand image had been damaged due to the exploitation of the BRS leaders. He says, "KTR is making threatening comments with the illusion that he is still in power but his party has been rejected by the people."