BRS Leader Demands Judicial Probe into Singareni Tender Controversy
Senior BRS leader Harish Rao has intensified his demand for a thorough investigation into the recent cancellation of the Singareni coal and solar tenders, alleging significant irregularities in the entire tender process. Speaking on Saturday, Rao called for an immediate inquiry by either a sitting judge or a central investigative agency to uncover the truth behind these controversial decisions.
Questioning the Deputy CM's Stance
Harish Rao directly challenged Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka's ambiguous position regarding potential irregularities in the coal tender process. "The deputy chief minister appears unclear about whether there were any irregularities," Rao stated, emphasizing that this uncertainty itself raises serious concerns about transparency and governance.
The BRS leader pointed to the cancellation of the Naini tender as concrete evidence of procedural flaws. "The very fact that the Naini tender was cancelled demonstrates that irregularities existed," he argued, while questioning why other tenders issued under similar conditions and procedures were allowed to proceed without similar scrutiny.
Rejecting Blame-Shifting Attempts
Harish Rao firmly rejected attempts to shift responsibility for the tender issues to the previous BRS government. He specifically addressed claims about the introduction of the site-visit certification clause in 2018 and references to central government institutions.
"Citing technical clauses from 2018 or pointing to central institutions doesn't change the fundamental facts," Rao asserted. He posed a critical question: "If the site-visit norm was legitimate and proper, why was the Naini tender cancelled?"
The senior leader highlighted that the same procedures followed in the Naini tender were also implemented in the Singareni tenders, making the selective cancellation even more questionable.
Call for Comprehensive Investigation
Harish Rao's demands include:
- A judicial investigation headed by a sitting judge
- Alternatively, a probe by a central investigative agency
- Complete transparency in the tender evaluation process
- Explanation for selective cancellation of tenders
The BRS leader emphasized that only an independent investigation can restore public confidence in government procurement processes and ensure that public resources are managed with utmost integrity and accountability.
