Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K T Rama Rao launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led Telangana government, accusing it of prioritizing beauty pageants over addressing the worsening crisis of farmer suicides. Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, KTR condemned the government’s decision to allocate ₹55 crore for events like Miss World while farmers struggle without access to drinking and irrigation water, according to a statement from his office.

“At a time when farmers are taking their own lives due to distress, the government is focused on organizing beauty contests. These events serve no real purpose or necessity,” KTR stated. He demanded an explanation on how such pageants contribute to job creation or revenue generation, accusing the administration of falsely portraying them as major international achievements despite their declining relevance globally.

Ambedkar Statue and Formula-E Controversy: KTR also criticized the government for keeping the statue of Dr. B R Ambedkar locked up and questioned why it was not included in the state's tourism circuit. “Why has Ambedkar been locked away? Will they at least open it on his birth anniversary when followers from across India visit?” he asked.

Further highlighting contradictions in the government's policies, he pointed out that while the Congress administration scrapped the ₹46 crore Formula-E event—calling it wasteful—it went ahead with a ₹55 crore expenditure on beauty pageants. KTR claimed that canceling Formula-E without Cabinet approval cost the state ₹46 crore and labeled it a "reckless decision." He argued that the electric car racing event had attracted investments in the electronics sector in districts like Zahirabad, Rangareddy, Vikarabad, and Mahabubnagar, even drawing interest from Tesla.

Allegations of Double Standards: The BRS leader also accused the Congress government of hypocrisy in its tourism policy. He questioned why leasing the Outer Ring Road for 33 years was criticized, while the same government now plans to lease public lands and assets for 99 years. Additionally, he dismissed claims made by Telangana Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao that the BRS government had done little for the tourism sector. KTR highlighted key achievements under BRS rule, such as securing UNESCO recognition for Ramappa Temple, restoring historical sites like Qutub Shahi Tombs and Mojamjahi Market in Hyderabad, and completing the Buddhavanam project, which was initially started by former minister Jana Reddy. He further emphasized that global events like the World Economic Forum and Global Entrepreneur Summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump, were successfully hosted under BRS governance.

Cultural and Tourism Initiatives Under BRS: KTR pointed out that the BRS-led government had made significant contributions to the tourism sector, including developments in Kollapur and the near-completion of the Kaloji Auditorium in Warangal—projects he claimed the Congress government is now taking credit for. He also highlighted the Cultural Sarathi initiative, which provided jobs to 550 artists and played a crucial role in reviving Telangana’s cultural identity, language, and dialect. "We restored our identity, while this government locks away symbols of justice," KTR concluded.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.