BRS leader T Harish Rao targets the Congress government after multiple food poisoning incidents among students in Hyderabad, calling it an administrative failure.

Harish Rao Attacks Govt After Food Poisoning Incidents in Hyderabad Schools

Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led Telangana government following a series of food poisoning cases involving school and hostel students in Hyderabad. Calling the situation a governance breakdown, Rao said the chief minister’s much-touted “Vision 2047” had effectively turned into “Poison 2047” for children dependent on government-run institutions.

A day after several students fell ill, Rao, along with MLAs Kaleru Venkatesh and Mutha Gopal, visited King Koti Government Hospital, where students from the Bagh Lingampally Minority Residential School are undergoing treatment. He alleged that incidents of contaminated food in Gurukuls and hostels have become routine, questioning the government’s ability to ensure basic safety.

Taking aim at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Rao criticised the government’s spending priorities, remarking that crores were being allocated to high-profile football events while hospitalised students were allegedly being ignored. Using a sharp metaphor, he said, “This ‘Mestri’ is preparing to play against Messi,” referring to reported expenditure on sporting events. He also cited recent complaints from a BC Gurukul in Shameerpet over worm-infested rice and another case where dozens of students were hospitalised in Madhapur.

Rao further extended his criticism to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to meet footballer Lionel Messi during his G.O.A.T. India tour. He questioned why national leaders had time for international engagements but not for meeting affected students and families within the state.

What Happened: Food Poisoning Cases

On Friday, 60 students were affected in two separate food poisoning incidents in Hyderabad. At a Mandal Parishad Primary School in Chandra Naik Thanda, Madhapur, students reportedly fell ill after consuming mid-day meals and seviyan kheer, leading to vomiting in 44 children. They were shifted to government and private hospitals, and police later confirmed that all were out of danger.

Earlier, 16 students from the Bagh Lingampally minority residential school were admitted to King Koti Hospital with complaints of vomiting and abdominal pain following dinner.

Repeated food safety lapses in residential schools raise serious concerns about monitoring mechanisms and accountability. For parents and guardians, the incidents highlight the importance of regular inspections and grievance reporting at the local level. Politically, the issue places the government under pressure to shift focus from headline-driven projects to essential welfare delivery that directly impacts vulnerable students.