Hyderabad: BJP State President N. Ramchander Rao alleged panchayat fund diversion on Monday and demanded the immediate release of funds meant for Gram Panchayats.
He made the statement after meeting the Sarpanchs’ Joint Action Committee. He said nearly ₹640 crore under the 15th Finance Commission remained withheld. As a result, he stated that village administration had suffered due to lack of funds.
He criticised the government led by A. Revanth Reddy. He said the Congress had promised to clear pending bills while in opposition. However, he added that these assurances remained unfulfilled even after two and a half years in power. Therefore, he argued that the situation reflected a failure to honour commitments.
Panchayat fund diversion triggers crisis in villages
Ramchander Rao said panchayats were unable to pay salaries or carry out basic works. Consequently, he said the financial strain pushed local bodies into a serious crisis. He added that essential services at the village level had suffered due to the shortage.
Moreover, he said routine administration and development activities had been disrupted. He also warned that the continued delays weakened grassroots governance.
The BJP leader expressed support for the Sarpanchs’ agitation. He said the party would continue its protest until the government released the funds. He reiterated that the issue must be addressed without delay.
