Revanth Reddy Alleges Bias Against Southern States
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy strongly criticised the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of treating southern states unfairly when it comes to project approvals and sharing tax money.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, February 8, Mr. Reddy said the Centre has been ignoring the needs of Telangana and other southern states, even though they contribute a large share to the country’s tax revenue. He described the Centre’s approach as “step-motherly treatment” and said the South is not getting its fair share in return.
The Chief Minister pointed out that Telangana makes significant contributions to the national economy through taxes, industries, and development. However, he claimed that the State receives very little support from the Union government for important projects.
He alleged that since 2014, not a single major project proposed by the Telangana government has been approved by the Centre. He said this includes key irrigation schemes and infrastructure projects that are crucial for the State’s growth and farmers’ welfare.
Mr. Reddy also criticised the way tax funds are distributed among states. According to him, Telangana gets poor returns despite paying more into the national tax pool. He argued that this system unfairly penalises better-performing states that work hard to improve their economies.
The Chief Minister warned that such financial imbalance weakens the spirit of cooperative federalism, where both the Centre and states are expected to work together for development. He said ignoring the southern states could slow down progress and create regional inequality.
He urged the Union government to treat all states equally and approve projects based on merit and need, not politics. He added that fair treatment is essential for balanced national growth.
His remarks come at a time when political tensions between the Centre and several southern states have been increasing over issues related to funding, representation, and development priorities.