Hyderabad: Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar warned the Centre against sidelining the State in the upcoming Union Budget, alleging continued neglect and discrimination in financial allocations.
Speaking at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday, the Minister said any injustice in Sunday’s budget would raise serious questions about the role of BJP MPs from Telangana. He remarked that the budget outcome would show whether it brought “light or darkness” to the State. Therefore, he expressed concern over Telangana’s repeated exclusion from key Central support.
Ponnam Prabhakar accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of holding a grudge against Telangana’s formation. He said the Centre had consistently ignored the State’s legitimate proposals. Moreover, he demanded immediate financial support for pending projects, including the Outer Ring Road, Metro Rail Phase-II and the Musi River rejuvenation.
Telangana Union Budget appeal and questions over BJP MPs
Calling it a “final reminder,” the Minister said the BJP-led Union government must ensure basic justice to Telangana. According to him, the State was not asking for special treatment but only its rightful share of development funds.
He also questioned the silence of the eight BJP MPs representing Telangana. He asked why their presence in Parliament had failed to secure meaningful Central support for the State. Consequently, he said the Union Budget would test their effectiveness and commitment.
Clarifying his stand, Ponnam Prabhakar said Telangana did not seek advantages over neighbouring States. Instead, he said the State expected fair budget allocations and support for national-level institutions. Overall, he stressed that equal treatment was essential for balanced development and cooperative federalism.
