Hyderabad: Animal husbandry and sports minister Vakiti Srihari on Monday accused BRS leaders of attempting to mislead the people of the combined Mahabubnagar (Palamuru) through political demonstrations over Krishna river water issues.Reacting to the BRS leaders’ visit to Gudur region in Karnataka and their campaign with the slogan, ‘Water in Karnataka–Barren Lands in Telangana’, the minister said the exercise was aimed at creating political controversy rather than genuinely addressing the concerns of farmers in the Palamuru region.The minister said the Congress govt was working to safeguard the water interests of Palamuru and improve the prospects of farmers in the region. He criticised what he described as “placard politics” and political theatrics of BRS, asserting that the people, particularly farmers and the youth, were capable of distinguishing between genuine development efforts and false propaganda.He questioned the moral right of BRS leaders to speak on Krishna water, pointing out that they had failed to raise their voice against the construction of dams in Karnataka during the party’s nine-and-a-half-year tenure.“Those who claimed that statehood agitation was fought for water, funds and jobs, did not question the construction of dams in Karnataka when they were in power,” he stated.The minister alleged that the previous BRS govt had completely neglected the interests of farmers in the Jurala catchment area and had failed to address the problems of villages affected by the project. He stated that detailed project reports (DPRs) were prepared for the construction of barrage-cum-bridges across the Bhima and Krishna rivers in coordination with the Karnataka govt.Srihari also highlighted the govt’s focus on the development and rehabilitation of villages affected by the Jurala project, including Bhutpur, Nedugam, Anugonda, Ankenapalli and Dadampalli. The present Congress govt was also preparing proposals for the expansion of the Bhutpur dam.“If you cannot do good, at least do not do harm. Do not mislead the people through politics,” Srihari advised the BRS leaders.
