‘Why book me, blame Congress govt?’ KTR responds to case against Formula E cancellation in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: “Why book a case on me when it is the Congress government’s mistake to cancel the Formula E championship?” questioned KT Rama Rao.

The BRS working president was responding to the news that the Congress government in Telangana is planning to file a case over the cancellation of the Formula E race in Hyderabad and arrest him.

‘Common for States to invest in sports’

KTR noted that the Uttar Pradesh government had previously backed the Formula 1 (F1) race through the JP Group in Noida, where it was held for three years. He also highlighted that the Tamil Nadu government invested Rs 42 crores in an F4 race, while Andhra Pradesh under chief minister Chandrababu Naidu spent Rs 2,000 crores on the 2003 Afro-Asian Games at Gachibowli Stadium, emphasising that State governments spending money on sports is common globally.

During BRS’s tenure, KTR and other officials, including IAS officers Arvind Kumar and Jayesh Ranjan, succeeded in bringing Formula E to Hyderabad, with the first race held as part of Season 9 in February 2023.

Electric vehicles require supportive policies, KTR explained, drawing a parallel with the successful Genome Valley biotech cluster that Naidu initiated.

Why was the Formula E championship in Hyderabad cancelled?

During its rule, BRS intended to make Hyderabad a mobility hub, which even attracted a $1 billion investment offer from China’s BYD, although it was declined due to national concerns over Chinese investments.

Greenko, the event sponsor, later withdrew, citing financial reasons, and issued a letter stating they wouldn’t hold the next season in Hyderabad.

Six months before the Telangana elections, Formula E officials raised sponsorship concerns, prompting BRS to fund the race, paying Rs 55 crores to secure Hyderabad’s inclusion. KTR instructed Arvind Kumar to facilitate this, asserting that Congress ‘lacked vision’ in cancelling the race.

KTR slams CM Revanth Reddy and Megha Krishna Reddy

KTR questioned the intent behind Congress using the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against him, suggesting political motives by chief minister A Revanth Reddy.

“If Revanth Reddy is confident, let him take action against Megha Krishna Reddy, not me,” KTR remarked, demanding the ACB investigate Congress’ role in ‘damaging Hyderabad’s image.’ He accused Congress of halting BRS projects upon taking office, asking, “Is this how they plan to develop Hyderabad?”

Congress allegations against BRS

Upon assuming power, Congress cancelled the Formula E event, issued a notice to former MAUD chief secretary Arvind Kumar and criticised BRS for prioritising Formula E. Congress’s main allegations were: Why did BRS spend Rs 55 crores on Formula E? And why was no action taken against Ace Nxt Gen, a subsidiary of Greenko, for defaulting and backing out of the event?