At a time the BRS leadership is adopting an aggressive attitude against AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s proposed Polavaram- Banakacherla link project and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is struggling hard to bring pressure on the Narendra Modi-led union government to stop this move, the silence of the BJP leadership in the state is worrying their own cadre.
They fear that when both BRS and Congress are attempting to rouse emotions of the people around this project, the silence of their party may cost them heavily politically. Moreover, it has been giving scope for both those parties to target BJP alleging that their silence in the state is giving strength to Chandrababu’s comments that no one is opposing them moving forward on the Banakacherla project.
There is already a debate among the people that even though the BJP secured 8 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections, Telangana has not gained anything. The way the BJP is currently following the Banakacherla issue is further fueling the fire. The behavior of the BJP MPs representing the state is being heavily criticized in Telangana society.
Telangana irrigation experts are expressing anger over AP CM Chandrababu’s proposals on Banakacherla, the Delhi BJP leaders’ quick action on the project, and the TelanganaBJP leaders’ silence on the other hand. This has been giving scope for BRS and Congress to accuse the Narendra Modi government, which should look at the two states with equal perspective, is acting unilaterally.
As BJP is a coalition partner in Andhra Pradesh and succeeding in getting Rajya Sabha seats and other benefits in power more then its actual strength, it is felt Telangana BJP is unable to raise their voice. It is being explained that former Central Water Resources Department advisor Vedire Sriram, who opposed the project, was also silenced. He was sent as an advisor to the Maharashtra government and tied up.
Some BJP leaders in the state are also expressing anger over the Delhi BJP issuing orders on the project and the Telangana BJP MPs remaining silent without crossing the line.
Telangana water sector experts, intellectuals and engineers are seeking that all MPs from both parties write letters to the Center themselves, demanding that the Banakacharla project be stopped at any cost. Otherwise, they are warning that those parties will have to learn a lesson. They are warning that if they play with the interests of the people, both parties will be punished again.