Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president N. Ramchander Rao on Saturday alleged that the Congress government led by A. Revanth Reddy was attempting to suppress the truth behind the alleged disappearance of large quantities of coal from the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) mines by denying permission to a BJP fact-finding team to visit the mining areas.

Addressing the media at the BJP State office in Hyderabad, Mr. Rao condemned the police for preventing a delegation comprising BJP Legislature Party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy, MLAs and MLCs from visiting the SCCL mines to ascertain facts relating to reports of nearly 45 lakh metric tonnes of coal allegedly going missing.

Mr. Rao alleged that the Chief Minister was targeting Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy through false propaganda to divert attention from the alleged irregularities in Singareni and prevent the truth from coming to light.

Stating that the Centre has no role in appointments or transfers in the SCCL, he said Mr. Kishan Reddy had, in his capacity as Union Minister, written to the Chief Minister seeking an inquiry into the alleged scam.

Questioning the government’s decision to stop the BJP fact-finding committee, Mr. Rao asked why the visit was obstructed if there was nothing to hide and demanded that the government disclose the facts behind the alleged coal theft.

The BJP leader also criticised the State government over the display of ‘No Admission’ boards in government schools, describing it as ‘ridiculous’. He alleged that while the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government had neglected the education sector, the present Congress government was further weakening the system through continued neglect.

Mr. Rao sought to know why government schools in the State were unable to attract students on par with the Centre-funded Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) and accused the government of failing to improve educational standards.

He further alleged that the ₹1,000-crore funding promised by the Chief Minister during his visit to Osmania University (OU) had not materialised. He demanded immediate reconstruction of hostels at Osmania University and Kakatiya University, Warangal.