Congress Criticizes Union Budget for Discrimination Against Telangana

Hyderabad, Feb 1 (NationPress) The Congress government in Telangana has expressed strong dissent regarding the Union Budget 2025-26, claiming clear discrimination against the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, and IT & Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu have all criticized the unfair treatment once more.

The Deputy Chief Minister accused the Centre of completely disregarding Telangana. He also criticized the Centre for what he termed efforts to reduce the state's share in tax revenues.

He alleged that the Central government showed bias in the distribution of funds and neglected irrigation projects.

Sridhar Babu stated that the Union Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has once again highlighted the Centre's intentional bias against Telangana. He noted that while states gearing up for elections and those ruled by the NDA have been generously funded, Telangana has been systematically ignored.

The minister pointed out that despite contributing 5 percent to the national GDP, Telangana has not received funds commensurate with its economic contributions.

“Telangana contributed Rs 26,000 crore in taxes to the Centre, but it was denied its fair share. Although the overall budget increased by 12 percent compared to the previous year, Telangana was neglected for political motivations. The Modi government has let down the people of Telangana, even after the state elected 8 BJP MPs to Parliament,” he remarked.

Sridhar Babu highlighted that while states such as Bihar, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat received substantial allocations, Telangana was intentionally excluded. He questioned whether this was not a blatant act of political vendetta.

He mentioned that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka had persistently approached the Prime Minister and Union Ministers, requesting Rs 1.63 lakh crore in financial support, but their requests were ignored.

The minister noted that Telangana had asked for Rs 17,212 crore for extending the Hyderabad Metro to 76.4 km, but the Centre did not allocate a single rupee.

Despite Hyderabad’s rapid growth into a global city, the Centre denied funding under CSMP for upgrading underground drainage systems in Hyderabad and its suburbs, he mentioned.

The 55-km-long Musi River, which has become an environmental menace, required Rs 4,000 crore for restoration, but the Centre categorically refused to assist.

“According to Article 1, India is a Union of States, but for the BJP, it seems to be merely a union of politically significant states. Time and again, the Centre overlooks the essence of federalism. This time, Bihar has received special packages, while Telangana has been completely disregarded,” stated Sridhar Babu.

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy criticized the Union Budget 2025-26, labeling it anti-farmer, anti-poor, and a betrayal of Telangana by the BJP-led Union government.

He charged that the BJP government devised the budget with an eye on the forthcoming elections, favoring Bihar and Delhi while neglecting Telangana and other non-election states.

Uttam Kumar Reddy enumerated several unfulfilled commitments made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, including the Bayyaram Steel Plant, Kazipet Railway Coach Factory, a Tribal University, national status for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project, and the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) for Hyderabad.

“Telangana has been pursuing these projects for a decade, yet the BJP government has consistently turned a blind eye,” he stated.