Hyderabad, July 27 (Reporter) BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao criticised the budget speech of Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, describing it as a political address. During a budget discussion in the assembly on Saturday, Rao highlighted that the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) had increased from Rs 4.5 lakh crore to Rs 14 lakh crore during the BRS regime. He also noted that the old-age pension was raised from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000. "It is not correct to say that the BRS rule was not good. Proofs are needed," he demanded. Rao claimed that the budget was full of inaccuracies. He pointed out that while more tax revenue was mentioned compared to the last budget, the sources were not specified. He also highlighted the inclusion of Rs 35,000 crore in non-tax revenue without detailing the sources. Rao recalled that Bhatti and Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu had criticized the previous BRS government for selling land to fund the loan waiver scheme. However, the current budget proposes Rs 10,000 crore through land sales. "If you have faith in your words, you must withdraw the proposal of land sale," he stated. Rao criticised the Congress government for announcing an agriculture loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh, which was to cost Rs 31,000 crore, but allocating only Rs 26,000 crore in the budget. He mentioned that delays in government payments to banks result in interest being charged to farmers, adding to their burden. He demanded the immediate implementation of the Mahalakshmi scheme (Rs 2,500 for women) and criticized the Congress government for promising Rs 500 per quintal for fine (thin) rice only. He insisted that the Rs 500 per quintal promise should apply to all grains as stated in the Congress manifesto. Rao highlighted difficulties in implementing the Griha Jyoti scheme (free electricity up to 200 units) and noted the omission of the Yuva Vikasam scheme in the budget. Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy intervened, criticizing the BRS regime for not fulfilling a single promise. Komatireddy asserted that the BRS government did not implement 24-hour electricity supply, to which Harish Rao responded, criticizing Komatireddy for speaking with half-knowledge. Harish Rao criticized the government for not increasing the old-age pension from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000, even after eight months. He urged the government to pay the pending pensions for June and July. Panchayat Raj and Women and Child Welfare Minister D Seethakka, who intervened, stated that according to official documents, the one-month pending pension issue originated during the BRS regime. She mentioned that several irregularities occurred in pension distribution during the BRS regime, including double pensions paid to 5,000 beneficiaries. The Congress government, she added, was taking steps to correct these irregularities. Reacting to this, Harish Rao acknowledged past mistakes, stating that the people had given their mandate for the BRS to sit in opposition. He urged Congress to correct its mistakes if it wished to avoid a similar fate...////...