Naini Coal Block Row Sparks Telangana Political Storm
The Naini coal block issue is now creating a stir in Telangana politics. It has not only become a controversy within the government but has also turned into a fight among media organizations. However, in this entire episode, the manner in which Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who handles the Finance and Power departments in Telangana, responded to the issue on Sunday has raised several suspicions and opened the door to many new questions. The “Kothapaluku” column written by the MD of Andhra Jyothi, Vemuri Radhakrishna, published on Sunday, became the reason for a major political uproar in Telangana. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka responded to this issue in great haste. It can be said that this is the first time in the two years since the Congress government came to power in the state that the government has responded so quickly to an issue. This has led to discussions that the Deputy Chief Minister panicked and brought up the name of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who passed away back in 2009. At the same time, the statements he made as a counter to the news published in Andhra Jyothi are also giving rise to several doubts. As a result, there is a discussion that there is some major story behind this entire episode.
Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka himself has so far stated that not a single company has submitted a bid to secure the Naini block works. He has also said that there has always been a rule that the coal mine site must be visited. This is where several doubts arise. When Singareni officials themselves are saying that not a single company has submitted a bid yet, couldn’t certificates have been issued to all the companies that visited the site to ensure competition? On this very issue, a banner story was published in Andhra Jyothi a day earlier. At that time, the Deputy Chief Minister did not respond at all. It now appears that he responded in haste only after his name was mentioned in the “Kothapaluku” column. If the Power Department, which comes under Bhatti’s purview, is truly so transparent in this tender matter, would it cancel the tender based on a single article published in the media? Instead of saying that anyone can participate in the tender and that certificates will be issued to whoever visits the site, the decision to cancel the tender has now raised several suspicions.
What is the intention behind directing Singareni to call for tenders again with the same conditions that central government institutions would impose? If there was really nothing wrong with the present tender, couldn’t the same tender have been continued while allowing everyone to participate? When Bhatti Vikramarka says that anger over Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy is now being shown towards him because he was close to Rajasekhara Reddy, does anyone really believe this? Is it believable that anger over Rajasekhara Reddy, who passed away in 2009, is now being vented on Bhatti? By saying that he has been in the Congress from the beginning and that he was a follower of Rajasekhara Reddy, comments are being heard even from within Congress circles that the Deputy Chief Minister appears to have directly targeted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in this matter. In short, a senior leader commented that Bhatti seems to be saying that he belongs to the YS camp and not to the present Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s side.
From the newly introduced HILTT policy of the Telangana government to the Musi rejuvenation project, the BRS has made even bigger allegations against the Revanth Reddy government. On these issues, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and a few ministers have given counters, but they have not backed down on a single project. However, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka suddenly issuing orders to cancel the tender has now become a hot topic. On the other hand, a senior leader commented that there have been many instances where Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka attended regular breakfast meetings and lunch meetings at the residence of a channel head, and that every leader in the Congress party knows about the relationship between the two.
Responding to the article published in Andhra Jyothi, Bhatti said that he entered politics to ensure that Telangana’s resources reach the people. He said his life is transparent and that he did not enter politics to enjoy power or position. He stated that he would protect the state and its people from looters and criminals. He criticized Andhra Jyothi MD Radhakrishna, saying that things were written against him in the “Kothapaluku” column. He alleged that a fabricated story was cooked up and served for someone’s benefit. He clarified that tender conditions are decided by the Singareni Board and that ministers have no role in it. He said that he lives for self-respect and entered politics to protect the state from looters. He warned that if anyone tries to intimidate them with petty stories, he would not remain silent, and stated that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and all ministers are working for the larger interests of the people of the state. He also said that he did not enter politics casually, and that for the last 40 years he has been fighting for the people both inside and outside the Assembly.
