‘Aap mere se hi judo’: Modi’s offer to Revanth Reddy raises eyebrows

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy engaged in a sharp yet cordial political exchange at HICC, where Modi countered Reddy’s request for greater Central aid by highlighting Telangana’s current allocations and cautioning about its trillion-dollar economy target.

Hyderabad: Political sparring often reflects political maturity. A well-timed repartee can reinforce a demand, convey a subtle warning and when delivered with political finesse, carry layered messaging. Such an exchange played out on Sunday at the HICC between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

While Modi seized the opportunity to deliver a killer punch, all Revanth Reddy could do was to sport an embarrassed smile.

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In an apparent attempt to make a light-hearted pitch for greater Central assistance, Revanth Reddy reminded Modi that the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had extended substantial financial support to Gujarat when Modi was its Chief Minister. Drawing a parallel, the Telangana Chief Minister suggested that the Centre should now similarly support Telangana.

However, Modi turned the moment to his advantage, using the exchange to counter the argument while reiterating the Centre’s commitment to Telangana.

“I am prepared to allocate the same quantum of funds that were given to Gujarat. But let me remind you, if that is done, Telangana will receive only half of what the Centre is allocating to the State now,” Modi remarked with a smile, even as he pointedly observed that Telangana would otherwise struggle to realise its ambitious goal of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

“You will not be able to achieve this,” Modi said, before delivering the final political punchline from the stage: “Aap mere se hi judo.”

The Prime Minister’s remark elicited an embarrassed smile from Revanth Reddy. But this camaraderie was widely interpreted as a symbolic display of bonhomie between the “Bade Bhai” and the “Chote Bhai” of Indian politics.

At a meeting in HICC, where the Prime Minister virtually inaugurated development works worth Rs. 9,400 crore, Modi pointed out that before 2014, the undivided Andhra Pradesh was allocated just Rs 1,000 crore in the Railway budget, whereas Telangana was allocated Rs 5,500 crore this year. Telangana got six Vande Bharat trains and six Amrit Bharat Express trains. The Kazipet railway junction was being upgraded with significant investments.

During his speech delivered in Hindi, Revanth Reddy said he called on Union Ministers and the Prime Minister multiple times seeking approvals for pending projects like Musi Rejuvenation Project, Metro Rail expansion, radial roads and the proposed 12-lane express highway connecting Hyderabad and Machilipatnam among the projects requiring Central assistance.

Requesting Modi’s direct intervention, the Chief Minister urged him to hold a two-hour special meeting to clear pending proposals related to Telangana.

Revanth Reddy also referred to Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar as his good friends. “They keep stressing about the Prime Minister’s big heart and magnanimity. Telangana is hopeful that he will approve all pending proposals,” he remarked while praising Modi’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision. Revanth Reddy said Telangana was ready to contribute actively towards the goal of making India a developed nation.

Governor SP Shukla, Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay and Telangana R&B Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy were on stage.