Kishan Reddy: BRS, Congress policies eroded Singareni workers' confidence
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday, 14 July alleged that successive Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Congress governments have systematically undermined the confidence and job security of employees at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), one of India's largest public sector coal enterprises. Kishan Reddy made the remarks during his visit to the KTK-8 Mine in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district as part of the 'Singareni Bharosa Yatra'.
What Kishan Reddy Said at the Mine
Addressing workers and their families at the KTK-8 Mine, the Union Minister said the unwavering commitment and hard work of Singareni's workforce have been instrumental in powering India's growth for decades. He alleged, however, that rather than being developed as a strategic national asset, Singareni has repeatedly been reduced to a political tool by previous governments since the formation of Telangana.
Kishan Reddy highlighted what he described as growing anxiety and uncertainty gripping the workforce over the last decade, attributing it directly to policy failures of the BRS and Congress administrations.
₹9,000 Crore Dues and DMF Transparency Demand
The Union Minister raised serious financial concerns, pointing to nearly ₹9,000 crore in pending dues owed to Singareni for coal supplied to Telangana GENCO. He argued this outstanding amount has placed an unnecessary and avoidable financial burden on the company, affecting its operational stability.
Kishan Reddy also demanded complete transparency from the Telangana government over the utilisation of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds provided by the Centre, signalling broader accountability concerns around mineral revenue management in the state.
Tadicherla-2 Coal Block Allocation
On a constructive note, the minister cited the Centre's decision to allocate the Tadicherla-2 Coal Block to Singareni as evidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to protecting the company and its workforce. He framed the allocation as a deliberate policy move to strengthen Telangana's energy and industrial growth, rather than a routine administrative decision.
BJP's Political Pitch for Telangana
Kishan Reddy expressed confidence that when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forms the government in Telangana, it will prioritise transparent governance, improved workers' welfare, and long-term organisational development of Singareni. He reaffirmed his personal commitment to restoring the company to sustained profitability and securing a stronger future for its employees and their families.
BJP Telangana State President N. Ramchander Rao, MLC Anji Reddy, MLA Dhanpal Suryanarayana, and other party leaders were present during the visit. This comes amid the BJP's sustained outreach campaign in Telangana ahead of future state elections, with Singareni workers — a significant electoral constituency in the region — emerging as a key focus group.