Fri Feb 28 13:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Minister Accuses Harish Rao of Politicizing SLBC Accident
**Hyderabad:** Minister Juppally Krishna Rao has accused former minister Harish Rao of using the recent SLBC tunnel accident for political gain. Speaking at a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, Rao questioned why the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, which ruled the state for ten years, left the SLBC project pending.
Rao directly challenged Harish Rao, asking why the tunnel construction was halted after only 200 meters, suggesting it was due to political motives rather than genuine concerns. He further questioned whether the project was deliberately stalled to prevent the Congress from gaining credit upon its completion.
He also criticized the BRS for allegedly using natural disasters for political mileage, pointing out that the SLBC project could have been completed at a lower cost. Rao stated the BRS has no right to comment on the project. He lauded the rescue efforts, stating that the prompt response likely saved many lives, suggesting that without immediate action, the death toll could have reached 40.
Rao’s statement comes in response to criticism from Harish Rao regarding the accident and the state government’s handling of the situation.
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