Hyderabad, May 23 (UNI) Union Minister and Telangana BJP President G. Kishan Reddy announced a series of major initiatives undertaken by the central government in Telangana, while delivering a strong critique of both the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS parties in the state.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Nampally on Friday, Reddy stated that since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, numerous central institutions have been established in Telangana, with three more recently sanctioned.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to bolstering infrastructure and research in the state. A key highlight is the establishment of a Global Center of Excellence on Millets in Hyderabad, to be developed with an investment of Rs 250 crore.
This center, under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Agriculture, will enhance ongoing millet research led by the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) and will feature cutting-edge facilities including gene editing greenhouses, speed breeding labs, phenomics labs, a millets museum, a central instrumentation lab, research farms, international hostels, and training rooms.
It aims to serve farmers, promote value-added products, support startups, and provide quality seeds and advanced training.
The Minister also revealed plans for the Kavach Centre of Excellence, a specialised railway safety research and development hub to be set up in the Secunderabad parliamentary constituency.
The center will receive Rs 41 crore for temporary establishment and Rs 274 crore for full-scale construction. It will focus on advancing indigenous Kavach technology, providing technical training to railway staff, and collaborating with institutions such as Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology (Hyderabad), Madan Mohan Malviya University (Gorakhpur), and MBM University (Jodhpur). Special certification courses in railway signalling and related fields will also be offered to engineering students.
Reddy highlighted the central government’s significant investment in vocational training through the upgradation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
With a 47 per cent increase in the number of ITIs over the past three and a half years, the country now has 14,600 ITIs, including 3,316 government-run institutes across 681 districts. Student enrolment has grown from 9 lakh in 2014 to 14.4 lakh. A Rs 60,000 crore national plan is underway to modernise ITIs, and new training centres will be established in five cities, including Hyderabad, to strengthen trainer development and infrastructure.
The Minister also spoke on railway infrastructure, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated three newly modernised railway stations in Telangana, with another 37 stations currently under development.
By 2026, a total of 40 stations will be modernised across the state, with attention given to preserving regional heritage, as seen in the Kakatiya-inspired design of the revamped Warangal Railway Station.
Referring to the plight of farmers, Reddy expressed concern over crop damage due to recent unseasonal rains.
He called on the state government to expedite grain procurement, assuring that the central government is ready to bear the full cost—even for any paddy procured beyond the previously agreed 53 lakh tonnes. He emphasised that there would be no financial burden on the state and urged the Telangana government to set up additional procurement centers if necessary.
Reddy did not hold back in his criticism of the political opposition. He dismissed the BRS party as a “daddy-daughter-son party” and likened it to a sinking ship, saying it had lost the public’s trust.
Referring to a letter written by BRS leader Kavitha to her father KCR, Reddy called it a “drama” lacking substance and criticised the former Chief Minister for not engaging with public organisations during his tenure. He claimed the letter confirmed the public belief that the BJP is the only viable alternative in Telangana.
The Minister also condemned the Congress-led state government for alleged extortion practices through a so-called “Triple R Tax” targeting real estate and industry.
He reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to constitutional governance and denounced violence as a means to gain power. Reddy also defended the ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation in the National Herald case, emphasising that the ED is an independent body operating within legal bounds.
Kishan Reddy reiterated the central government’s focus on development and public welfare in Telangana and declared that the people of the state believe the BJP is the only alternative to the current political establishment.
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