BJP alleges ₹8,600-cr. debt crisis in Telangana’s urban bodies

State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party N. Ramchander Rao claimed that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and 123 municipalities in the State have accumulated a total debt of ₹8,600 crore due to ‘commissions, corruption, and mismanagement’ under both the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the current Congress governments.

He said GHMC alone has liabilities amounting to ₹5,000 crore and alleged that the anti-corruption systems have collapsed, pointing out that although 1,500 officials were caught by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), no action had been taken against them.

Presenting a PowerPoint report ‘12 Years of erosion of Urban Telangana (BRS & INC legacy)’ at a function hall in Hyderabad on Thursday, the BJP president sharply criticised the governments for ‘mounting debts and lack of visible development, especially in urban areas.’

“Urban Telangana faced “increased crime rates, rising unemployment, and deteriorating infrastructure,” he said and expressed serious concern over women’s safety, citing daily reports of assaults and suicides. New scams have surfaced under the current government, including ₹6.3 lakh crore worth of land misuse under GO 27, misuse of funds in the name of Musi River beautification, and high commissions in land dealings and government contracts, he alleged.

The Congress government had failed to deliver even one of its ‘six guarantees and over 420 commitments’, but had borrowed ₹80,000 crore, worsening the State’s financial situation. He also highlighted the Chief Minister’s own statements about the government lacking funds even to pay salaries and claimed that 40 employees had died by suicide due to pending retirement benefits.

The BJP leader accused the government of practising vote-bank politics and expressed concern over temple vandalism and the alleged conversion of government lands in Hindu-majority areas into graveyards.

Mr. Rao said the Centre had contributed significantly to urban development through schemes such as the AMRUT Mission, Smart Cities, National Highways, Railways, free ration programmes, and loans to 7.2 lakh street vendors. He claimed that the Centre had released ₹12 lakh crore to Telangana and ₹9,512 crore worth of infrastructure was developed in last 11 years.

Appealing for public support, he said the BJP promises “honest governance, transparent administration, and real development” in municipalities and corporations.

Union Minister for Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy said the government is letting the real perpetrators behind the phone-tapping case go scot-free by taking action only against a police officer and demoting him, despite being aware of the gravity of the crime. He alleged that this was happening because of a political understanding between the BRS and Congress parties.

Party MPs, MLCs, Maharashtra Minister and Telangana municipal election in-charge Ashish Shelar, and others were present.