Is Congress misusing HYDRAA? KTR sounds the alarm

The political heat in Telangana has intensified ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election, with BRS working president KT Rama Rao sharply accusing the Congress government and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of misusing HYDRAA, the city’s urban demolition and regulation authority, as a tool to intimidate and target opponents. Rama Rao alleged that the ruling party was using HYDRAA not for public interest but to extort money from builders and silence dissent, while selectively harassing ordinary citizens and BRS activists.

Speaking at a party meeting at Telangana Bhavan, Rama Rao highlighted instances where families were threatened or forced to face demolitions if they did not align with the Congress. He cited the tragic cases of BRS activist Sardar, who reportedly committed suicide after his house was demolished, and Buchamma from Kukatpally, who died fearing HYDRAA action on her home. At the same time, illegal constructions of influential individuals remained untouched, raising questions about selective enforcement and bias. Rama Rao questioned whether HYDRAA would dare act against properties of those close to the Chief Minister, exposing alleged double standards in governance.

The BRS leader also accused the Congress of sidelining minority communities by scrapping welfare schemes like Shaadi Mubarak and minority Gurukul schools. He pointed out that for the first time in Telangana’s history, a Congress government had no Minister representing minorities. Rama Rao emphasized that development schemes for women, farmers, and marginalized communities were being abandoned, while the government blamed rising debts to hide administrative failures. Highlighting the BRS government’s decade-long support to minorities with Rs 12,000 crore, he framed Congress’s policies as opportunistic vote-bank politics rather than genuine public welfare.

Rama Rao’s warning to Jubilee Hills voters was clear: supporting Congress in the bypoll would legitimize selective harassment and demolitions. He urged the electorate to back the BRS candidate and support the late MLA Maganti Gopinath’s family, whose untimely demise necessitated the by-election. Senior party leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra and Maganti Sunitha, joined the meeting, reinforcing the call for active campaigning.

This confrontation over HYDRAA reflects a broader issue in urban governance,where authorities intended to regulate and maintain civic order are accused of being used as political instruments. Experts say selective enforcement undermines public trust and highlights systemic loopholes in regulatory frameworks, making transparency and accountability urgent requirements. The Jubilee Hills episode may set a precedent, showing how political rivalry can influence urban management and affect ordinary citizens, raising questions about fairness, governance, and the politicization of civic bodies in India.