- Panchayat Funds belong to people, not Congress MLAs, says KTR
- Panchayat Funds issue raised at Telangana Bhavan meet
Hyderabad: BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, asserting that Panchayat Funds are a constitutional right and not the charity of Congress MLAs. He accused Congress legislators of arrogance of power and high handed behaviour, while stressing that money meant for Gram Panchayats and welfare schemes belongs to the public.
Addressing a felicitation ceremony for newly elected Sarpanches, Upa Sarpanches, and Ward Members from Khanapur and Shadnagar constituencies at Telangana Bhavan, KTR urged local body representatives to resist pressure and intimidation. He said funds released for Panchayats and welfare schemes like Indiramma Houses are public money and cannot be treated as personal property of political leaders.
KTR strongly objected to threats allegedly issued by Congress MLAs. He said, “We are witnessing a disturbing trend where MLAs are threatening the electorate and elected representatives with life-threats. Let it be clear: Indiramma Houses and developmental funds are not the personal inheritance or ‘Jagir’ of these leaders. They are merely trustees of public wealth. The authority to identify beneficiaries lies with the Gram Sabhas and Sarpanches, as enshrined in the Constitution.” He added that such behaviour weakens democratic institutions at the grassroots.
Panchayat Funds and five tier governance highlighted by KTR
Meanwhile, KTR questioned the financial position of the Congress administration. He said some MLAs were reportedly writing to the World Bank or appealing for funds on public platforms. “When the MLAs themselves are cash-strapped, their claims of ‘granting’ funds to villages are hollow. Leaders must remember they are spending the taxpayers’ money, not their personal assets,” he said.
KTR said Gram Panchayats enjoy administrative and financial autonomy under the five tier governance system envisioned by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of betraying Backward Classes by reducing local body reservations from 24 percent to 17 percent to speed up elections. He also said the hurry was to secure ₹3,500 crore from the Central Finance Commission. “By law, 70% of these funds must be devolved directly to the Gram Panchayats. No MLA or Chief Minister has the legal standing to obstruct this flow,” KTR said.
Later, KTR announced that the BRS would set up Legal Cells in every district and conduct training workshops to educate Sarpanches on their constitutional rights and duties. He said villages have become orphaned under Congress rule, as even maintenance funds for tractors and nurseries created during KCR’s tenure are being denied.
Turning to agriculture, KTR said, “Under the KCR government, farmers received Rythu Bandhu and fertilizers at their doorstep. Today, farmers are forced into ‘street wars’ for a bag of Urea.” He criticised the introduction of the Urea App, saying, “An app cannot solve the shortage of physical stock in shops.”
KTR told the Sarpanches they have a five year mandate and predicted the BRS would return to power. He also criticised the Chief Minister for campaigning in local polls, calling it a sign of insecurity. Former MLAs Anjaiah Yadav and Jajala Surender, former MLC Karne Prabhakar, and other leaders attended the event.
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