Hyderabad, March 31 -- Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao on Monday, March 30, alleged that the state government has been diverting funds released by the Centre under the 15th Finance Commission, depriving gram panchayats of their rightful financial support.

His remarks came after representatives of the Telangana State Sarpanches' Association Joint Action Committee (JAC) met him during their "Chalo Assembly" protest, organised to demand the immediate release of funds to local bodies.

Addressing the media, Ramchander Rao stated that the BJP had been raising concerns for some time about the alleged diversion of central funds meant for panchayats.

He claimed that approximately Rs 640 crore allocated under the 15th Finance Commission...