Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader, made a visit to the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleswaram project in Telangana on Thursday. The Kaleswaram project is recognized as the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project. During his inspection, Gandhi observed the presence of cracks in the barrage’s pillars.

Expressing his concerns about the “damage,” Gandhi asserted that these cracks had emerged due to subpar construction practices. He took to “X” (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts, stating, “The Kaleshwaram Project is nothing but the KCR Family ATM. I visited the Medigadda barrage, which is a component of the corruption-tainted Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana.”

Gandhi emphasized, “Multiple pillars have developed cracks due to substandard construction, and there are reports suggesting that these pillars are sinking.” He further accused Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his family of exploiting the Kaleshwaram project as their “personal ATM” to the detriment of the people of Telangana.

Accompanying Gandhi on this visit were A. Revanth Reddy, the state Congress president, and other associates.

Gandhi had previously raised concerns about corruption in the Kaleswaram project during his election campaigns in Telangana. He had even presented a symbolic ‘Kaleswaram ATM’ created by his party to illustrate his point to the public.

Notably, a team of officials from the dam safety authority recently conducted an inspection of the Medigadda barrage in response to the reported “damage.”

The primary goal of the Kaleswaram project, inaugurated in 2019, is to divert 195 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the Godavari River to the underdeveloped areas of Telangana. The project aims to channel this water to the Sripada Rao Yellampally project and create an additional ayacut (cultivated area) spanning approximately 18.25 lakh acres in Adilabad, Karimnagar, and other districts. Additionally, it is intended to provide 40 TMC of drinking water to various towns and cities in the state.

The overall cost of the project, including the construction of three barrages at Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla, is estimated to be around Rs 80,000 crore.

During a political rally on Monday, Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, a Member of Parliament representing Telangana and a candidate for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party in the Dubbak Assembly segment, fell victim to a stabbing attack by an unidentified assailant.

The 57-year-old political leader was targeted while he was actively engaged in an election campaign in Surampalli village within the Dubbak segment. Fortunately, his injuries were minor, thanks to the swift response of BRS activists who were present and managed to apprehend the assailant.

Mr. Reddy initially received medical attention at Gajwel Hospital before being transferred to a private facility in Hyderabad for further treatment.

The perpetrator, identified as Raju, an individual who claimed to be a YouTube ‘journalist’ hailing from Karimnagar, conveyed to the authorities that he had requested the MP’s support in becoming a beneficiary of the Telangana Dalit Bandhu Scheme. Reportedly, he was dissatisfied with the MP’s response, which led to the violent incident.

Raju took advantage of a handshake opportunity with the MP to execute the stabbing, targeting Reddy in the stomach with a concealed knife.

In response to the incident, Finance Minister T. Harish Rao visited Prabhakar Reddy during his hospitalization at Gajwel Hospital.

Furthermore, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed strong condemnation for the attack and conveyed her wishes for Prabhakar Reddy’s speedy recovery. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a peaceful and secure environment during the election period, asserting that such incidents are a threat to the democratic process. The Governor directed the Director General of Police to undertake a thorough investigation and ensure the safety of candidates and campaigners participating in the elections. Her message reiterated the fundamental principle that violence has no place in a democratic society.

In preparation for the upcoming assembly elections next month, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Telangana has introduced a comprehensive manifesto, named ‘Bahujan Bharosa,’ which features an array of promises aimed at empowering women workers and farmers, among other constituents.

The BSP’s manifesto pledges to provide free smartphones and washing machines to women workers and farmers. Furthermore, the party is committed to offering free driving training to women workers and ensuring the creation of 10 lakh jobs over the next five years, with half of these positions designated for women.

For landless families, the BSP promises to allocate one acre of land, with land titles registered in the name of women. Homeless individuals will receive 550 square yard house sites, with the government providing Rs 6 lakh for housing construction.

The party’s state president, R.S. Praveen Kumar, has vowed to reserve 33 percent of the state Cabinet seats for women, in addition to designating student leaders as shadow ministers.

Prior to the manifesto’s release, Praveen Kumar paid tribute to Pravalika, who tragically took her own life last week, reportedly due to the postponement of job recruitment exams.

The BSP is also dedicated to ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops and offering subsidies to farmers affected by natural disasters. They intend to abolish the Dharani portal, the land record management system introduced by the KCR government.

Should the BSP come into power, they will establish one international school in each mandal, with 100 students from each mandal receiving the opportunity for overseas education annually.

Praveen Kumar emphasized that both rural and urban workers will be guaranteed employment for 150 days each year with a minimum daily wage of Rs 350. Additionally, these workers will benefit from free transportation and health insurance.

The party has pledged Rs 15 lakh in health insurance for every family, with an annual budget of Rs 25,000 crore allocated for nutrition and healthcare.

If elected, the BSP will establish a board to support Gulf migrant workers, allocating Rs 5,000 crore for their welfare.

The BSP has also committed to regularizing the services of ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

It is noteworthy that the BSP has already declared its intention to contest the upcoming assembly elections independently and has unveiled its initial list of 20 candidates for the polls, with retired IPS officer Praveen Kumar running in the Sirpur constituency.