Harish Rao accepts Revanth Reddy’s challenge, calls for open debate on 14-month Congress rule

The BRS MLA criticises Congress government over its failure to protect Telangana’s share of Krishna waters

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao has thrown down the gauntlet to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, accepting his challenge for an open debate on the Congress government’s 14-month rule. He declared that he is ready for the discussion at any time and place of Revanth Reddy’s choosing – the latter’s Kodangal constituency, his residence or any other place.

“Let’s debate on the six guarantees and all 420 guarantees of your government,” he dared, charging the Congress with misleading people.

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In a fiery rebuttal to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks on Palamuru’s development, Harish Rao castigated the Congress government over its failure to protect the State’s share of Krishna waters. He criticized the Congress for failing to stop Andhra Pradesh from diverting Krishna River waters and instead targeting the BRS to shift blame.

“Instead of peddling to blatant lies and blaming the opposition, the government should focus on providing governance that actually benefits the people,” he remarked.

In a direct attack, the former Irrigation Minister said the Congress government had completely neglected the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme which is on the verge of completion. He criticised it for betraying the Palamuru region, stating that Palamuru, once a land of migration and drought under Congress rule, was transformed by former Chief Minister K chandrashekhar Rao into a prosperous region with completion of pending irrigation projects.

Lambasting Revanth Reddy’s comments on Palamuru’s development, Harish Rao said both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Congress governments of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, have turned Palamuru into a drought-ridden land. He questioned the credibility of a government that failed to construct a single check dam in last 14 months. “The same Congress that once abandoned Palamuru is now claiming to uplift it – will history change just because Revanth Reddy distorts it?” he asked.

The BRS legislator also took a sharp dig at Revanth Reddy’s political past, stating, “Your mentor Chandrababu Naidu, who once claimed to have adopted Palamuru, ruined its future. The Congress and TDP are both responsible for the suffering of Palamuru’s people. Revanth Reddy, having been a part of both parties, shares that sin.”

He stated that it was not BRS, but the Congress leaders from Telangana who stood silent while water was diverted through Pothireddypadu, appeasing the then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy at the cost of Telangana’s farmers.

Harish Rao came down heavily on Revanth Reddy for lacking both knowledge and sincerity regarding irrigation projects. He felt that the later neither understands the value of water nor the responsibility of his words. “Revanth Reddy only values corrupt money. He conveniently forgets this history. He speaks of protecting Telangana’s interests, but he was the one who once obstructed the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme with court cases,” he added.

Reaffirming the BRS government’s achievements under Chandrashekhar Rao, the former Minister asserted that 12 lakh acres were newly provided irrigation during their tenure, with another seven lakh acres awaiting water upon the project’s completion. “Congress failed to complete the project, depriving Narayanpet and Kodangal farmers of much-needed irrigation,” he said.

The BRS legislator declared that Revanth Reddy accused Chandrashekhar Rao of failing to provide water, but in reality, it was under him that Palamuru saw development. “It is unfortunate that a government that has not built a single check dam in 14 months wants to criticise Chandrashekhar Rao,” he said.