Hyderabad, August 22, 2026: Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy launched a strong attack on the Congress government in Telangana, alleging that the state had witnessed an increase in land disputes, settlements and irregularities.

Addressing a media conference at the BJP state office in Hyderabad on the death anniversary of journalist Shoyabulla Khan, Kishan Reddy spoke on several state and national issues, including land records, free rice distribution, fee reimbursement, voter-list revision and the proposed Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations.

Demand for Judicial Inquiry into 22A Land Listings

Kishan Reddy alleged that large areas of private land had been included in the 22A prohibited list under the Bhoobharathi system. He claimed that nearly four lakh acres in Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal districts alone had allegedly been added to the prohibited list.

He alleged that private houses and plots belonging to people who had obtained municipal permissions and paid taxes for decades were also being included, leading to harassment and alleged demands for large settlements and bribes.

The Union Minister demanded a comprehensive judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge into the lands added to and removed from the 22A list during the last two to three years.

He also announced that BJP legal cells would provide free legal assistance to affected people and farmers, from the mandal level up to the High Court.

Questions Removal of Central Logo from PMGKAY Cards

Kishan Reddy questioned why the Central Government logo and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name were allegedly missing from ration cards associated with the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Telangana.

He said the Union government bears a major share of the expenditure towards subsidised foodgrains, procurement, transportation and dealer commissions under the scheme. He alleged that while other states display the Central Government logo, Telangana was using only the photographs of the Chief Minister and Civil Supplies Minister.

He warned that if the state government continued to project the Central scheme as its own, the Centre would examine alternative mechanisms for distributing the benefits directly to beneficiaries.

₹15,000 Crore Fee Reimbursement Dues

The Union Minister demanded immediate release of approximately ₹15,000 crore in pending fee reimbursement dues to colleges in Telangana.

He alleged that delays in payments were pushing engineering colleges into financial difficulties and that some private colleges were withholding certificates of students who had completed their courses, affecting their higher education and employment opportunities.

Kishan Reddy also questioned the status of the ₹5 lakh Vidya Bharosa Cards and scooters promised to female students in the Congress election manifesto.

Hyderabad Liberation Day Celebrations

Remembering journalist and Imroz newspaper editor Shoyabulla Khan, Kishan Reddy paid tribute to his contribution in opposing the Razakar atrocities and the autocratic rule of the Nizam.

He said the Union government would officially organise Hyderabad Liberation Day (Hyderabad Mukti Diwas) at Secunderabad Parade Grounds on September 17. The celebrations would include a paramilitary parade and cultural programmes by Telangana artists.

Kishan Reddy alleged that successive BRS and Congress governments had avoided officially organising the event due to vote-bank politics and pressure from the AIMIM.

Voter List Revision

Kishan Reddy defended the voter-list revision being undertaken by the Election Commission of India, describing it as a constitutional and legally mandated process aimed at ensuring the principle of “one person, one vote.”

He alleged that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was creating fear among the public over the exercise. He claimed that voter numbers had fallen substantially in the Secunderabad constituency and said the state government should not blame the Centre when state officials and Booth Level Officers were involved in the process.

Foreign Travel Clearances

Responding to the controversy surrounding clearances for the Chief Minister’s official foreign visits, Kishan Reddy said such permissions were governed by diplomatic rules and international security protocols of the Ministry of External Affairs.

He said similar clearances had also not been granted to BJP ministers on several occasions and cautioned against politicising the issue.

Criticism of Congress and Rahul Gandhi

Kishan Reddy criticised the Congress party over its comments concerning student movements and recalled the 1969 separate Telangana agitation, alleging that hundreds of students were killed during the movement.

He also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for what he described as irresponsible statements during protests near Parliament. Kishan Reddy said political leaders should exercise restraint and responsibility while addressing young people and public demonstrations.

The Union Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as his willingness to forgive those who had made objectionable remarks against him and his late mother.

The press conference followed Kishan Reddy’s tribute to Shoyabulla Khan on his death anniversary at the BJP state office in Hyderabad.