PNS|Hyderabad
TPCC president Revanth Reddy has alleged graft even in the construction of the Martyrs’ Memorial. Alleging large-scale irregularities in the construction of the Martyrs’ Memorial, he said cost estimates were increased at will and that Minister KT Rama Rao had a role in it.
Revanth Reddy said that the government had constituted an expert committee on June 17, 2017, regarding the construction of the Martyrs Stupam. A fee of 6% was to be paid for the design, estimates and inspection of the works. On 28th June 2018, a tender advertisement worth Rs 63,75,35,381 was released for its construction. The same company had submitted three dummy tenders. KC Pullaiah’s company won the tender. After KC Pullaiah’s company joined hands with KTR, it became KCP Project Limited. The company is based in Proddatur, Kadapa district. The address of KCP company was changed to Vijayawada. Telukuntla Sridhar, a friend of KTR, strategically worked with KCP project’s Anil Kumar Kamishetti to benefit KTR.
As a result, the estimated construction cost had increased to Rs 127.50 crore. Even after that, the estimated cost was increased to Rs 158.85 crore and finally the estimated cost reached Rs 179.05 crore, Revanth Reddy alleged.
When one looked at the Martyrs Memorial,he ought to be be reminded of the struggles and sacrifices of martyrs. But KCR used the sacrifices of the martyrs for his political selfishness, Revanthclaimed. KCR and KTR were treating the history of Kalvakuntla as the history of Telangana. KCR was insulting the sacrifices of Martyrs, he added.
Addressing media persons at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Revanth Reddy said that 1,569 people were martyred in the Telangana statehood movement. The BRS was insulting those who had made sacrifices. It was not appropriate to write only johars for the martyrs in the memorial.
Revanthsought to know why CM KCR’s name should be engraved in stone plaques in the state when the names of the martyrs were not engraved. KCR was conspiring to pollute the history and Telangana society should realise this. The sacrifices of hundreds of heroes had been watered down by KCR. The cost of the Martrys’ Stupa, which had been started with a budget of Rs. 63 crore,had reached Rs 179.05 crore. People of Telangana should protest this, he said.
“Martyrs’ Stupa should represent the history of Telangana’s Martyrs. One Srikantachari, Ishan Reddy, Constable Kishtaiah…hundreds of martyrs should be remembered. The sacred memorial of the martyrs was desecrated by giving it to Andhra contractors. How can you handover the construction of the stupa, which will stand in history, to the people of Andhra? Isn’t this a mockery of Telangana society? The Memorial of the Martyrs is as sacred as the temple, mosque, and church. When the work of Pragati Bhavan built on 10 acres was completed in nine months…Will it take nine years to build the Martyrs Stupa…?” Revanth Reddy asked. He questioned whether KCR could not see KTR taking commission in the construction of the Martyrs’ Memorial.
