Hyderabad : In a sharp critique of the Union Budget 2025-26, Telangana’s Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister, Capt Uttam Kumar Reddy, has accused the BJP-led Central Government of betraying the state once again. He described the budget as anti-farmer, anti-poor, and politically motivated, alleging that it favored election-bound states like Bihar and Delhi while sidelining Telangana.
Minister Reddy pointed out the irony of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman quoting Telugu poet Gurajada Appa Rao, yet neglecting the Telugu state of Telangana in the budget allocations. He called out the unfulfilled promises made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, including the Bayyaram Steel Plant, Kazipet Railway Coach Factory, and the much-needed Tribal University. These projects, he said, have been ignored by the BJP government despite repeated demands from the state.
Reddy further accused the BJP of using the budget as a political tool to direct funds to election-centric states, while Telangana, which contributes 4.5% to India’s GDP, remains overlooked. He questioned why the Centre was sanctioning irrigation projects for states like Bihar but denying Telangana’s Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project national status.
On the agricultural front, Reddy criticized the lack of adequate support for farmers, including no increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and inadequate procurement guarantees. He also lamented the scrapping of the Hyderabad ITIR project, which he said could have created thousands of jobs. Additionally, he expressed concern over the budget’s failure to strengthen food security programs and welfare schemes, which are crucial in the face of rising inflation.
Reddy also pointed out the disparity in central tax devolution, with Telangana receiving only 2.10% of the share, despite contributing significantly to the national GDP. He accused the Centre of continued injustice, noting that Telangana has faced discrimination in every Union Budget since 2014. “This budget is not about development; it’s a political speech disguised as policy,” he concluded, vowing that the people of Telangana would not forgive the BJP for this ongoing neglect.
