Telangana Rakshana Sena (TRS) on 17 June demanded that the Centre order a formal investigation into alleged coal theft at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), following serious charges levelled by Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy. The demand signals a sharp escalation in the political battle over the state-run coal giant that employs tens of thousands in Telangana's coal belt.

TRS Calls for Immediate Central Action

TRS national spokesperson Akash Kolluru said the allegations made by the Union Minister were grave enough to warrant immediate federal intervention. 'I genuinely believe that if there is any merit to the allegations, a central investigation should immediately be launched. People of Telangana, especially those in the Singareni coal belt, deserve to know the truth. Irrespective of who the offender is, he or she should be brought to justice and face the wrath of the law in India,' Kolluru said.

Kolluru also criticised both the Union Coal Minister and the Chief Minister of Telangana for what he described as a blame game, arguing that political point-scoring was delaying accountability on a matter of public interest.

Key Demands for Singareni Workers

Kolluru reiterated demands first raised by TRS president Kalvakuntla Kavitha during her recent visit to the Singareni coal belt. Among the key demands: direct allocation of coal blocks to Singareni Collieries on par with Gujarat, an end to the taxation of workers' perks, and the immediate convening of the medical board, which is mandated to meet twice a month but has reportedly failed to do so.

These demands reflect long-standing grievances among SCCL workers, who argue that the company has been disadvantaged relative to coal entities in other states. The coal belt communities, Kolluru argued, deserve structural redress alongside accountability on the theft allegations.

Sharp Attack on Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan

Turning to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Kolluru described him as an 'unstable politician' and accused him of disrespecting Telangana's regional identity. The remarks were triggered by Pawan Kalyan reportedly equating the Telangana statehood agitation with extremism, comments that drew immediate backlash from Telangana political circles.

'On June 2, the formation day, when we pay respects to the 1,200 martyrs who laid down their lives for Telangana, he equated our sentiment to extremism. How dare he? This will not be forgotten, and the people of Telangana will teach him a lesson when he contests elections here,' Kolluru said.

Kolluru further noted that Pawan Kalyan had previously contested elections in Telangana and been rejected by voters, adding: 'Pawan Kalyan is possibly the most inconsistent and unstable politician that the country has ever seen.'

Political Context and What Comes Next

The Singareni coal theft controversy has become a flashpoint between the Centre and the Telangana state government, with both sides trading accusations rather than initiating a formal probe. SCCL, which is jointly owned by the Government of Telangana and the Government of India, sits at the intersection of state and central jurisdiction — making the question of who investigates politically loaded.

With TRS now formally on record demanding a central inquiry, pressure mounts on both the Union Coal Ministry and the Telangana government to move beyond rhetoric. Whether a probe is ordered — and by whom — will likely define the next phase of this dispute.