Hyderabad: Minister Danasari Anasuya, widely known as Seethakka, came down heavily on Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) today, challenging him to prove his honesty by appearing before the Kaleshwaram Enquiry Commission. The probe, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh, is looking into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), and Seethakka insisted the investigation is being conducted fairly and openly.
Seethakka didn’t hold back, urging KCR, former minister T. Harish Rao, and BJP MP Eatala Rajender to show up before the commission and explain their roles in the project, which she claimed has been marred by massive corruption. She pointed out that the project’s cost ballooned past ₹1.47 lakh crore, alleging that some people involved are now “celebrating abroad” with the money. She specifically brought up KCR’s daughter, BRS MLC K. Kavitha, accusing her of marking her birthday in the United States as a tactic to divert attention from the liquor case she’s linked to—a move Seethakka called a “BRS drama.”
The minister also highlighted the collapse of the Medigadda barrage, a key part of the Kaleshwaram project, saying the ₹1 lakh crore structure became useless within three years due to poor planning and execution. She slammed BRS leaders for labeling the enquiry as a political conspiracy, accusing them of playing a “four-pillar game”—a metaphor for their alleged political maneuvering to cling to power. Seethakka’s comments come just after the commission recommended action against 50 irrigation officials, a development that has turned up the heat in Telangana’s political circles.
The Kaleshwaram probe has been a tough issue ever since it started back in March 2024, with the commission calling KCR, Harish Rao, and Eatala Rajender to show up earlier this month on June 5, 6, and 9, respectively. KCR recently asked to delay his appearance until June 11, a decision that’s raised more questions about his willingness to cooperate. Reports from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and state vigilance teams have already pointed out big mistakes in the project’s planning, design, and construction—especially at the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages—keeping the controversy alive and well.
While Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s Congress government continues to demand clarity, BRS leaders like K.T. Rama Rao are shrugging off the probe, labeling it a Congress-BJP scheme to cover up their own failures. As the enquiry moves forward, Telangana’s political climate seems headed for more rough times in the coming days.
