KTR slams Revanth Reddy for backing out of debate on farmers’ issues
BRS leader KT Rama Rao accused CM Revanth Reddy of evading an open debate on farmers’ welfare and failing on electoral promises. He challenged the Chief Minister to a public or Assembly debate and demanded accountability on key guarantees.
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday lashed out at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, accusing him of evading accountability and backing out of an open debate on farmers’ welfare and the Congress government’s unfulfilled promises. Reiterating his readiness for a debate “anywhere, anytime,” Rama Rao said the BRS was even prepared to debate the ruling party on the floor of the Assembly, provided BRS MLAs were allowed to speak without interruption or mic disconnections.
Rama Rao, who had accepted the Chief Minister’s challenge, arrived at the Hyderabad Press Club at 11 am on Tuesday along with other BRS leaders.
Speaking at the event, he reminded that it was Revanth Reddy who had first dared the BRS to a public debate. “We accepted the challenge despite knowing Revanth Reddy would backtrack. At the very least, we expected one of his Ministers to show up. But not a single Congress leader had the courage to come,” he said.
He once again stressed that he was ready for a discussion “anywhere, anytime,” including in the Assembly, if opposition voices were not silenced. He called upon the Chief Minister to fix a new date and location for the debate. “If he cannot debate, he should apologise to the people of Telangana and to former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao,” he said.
He reiterated that the BRS was open to a fact-based debate, whether in the Assembly, in public, or before the media. “Let Revanth Reddy fix a date and place. I will be there,” he declared, adding that the Chief Minister didn’t even deserve to face KCR. “Any BRS leader is enough to counter him in an open debate.”
Terming the Congress regime as directionless and deceptive, Rama Rao accused Revanth Reddy of betraying farmers and failing on every major electoral promise, from farm loan waivers to the implementation of Rythu Bharosa.
“Revanth Reddy has not implemented a single one of his six guarantees or the 420 electoral promises. He assured to waive farm loans, implement Rythu Bharosa better than the BRS, and provide crop insurance. But he failed on all counts,” he said.
Presenting data to back his claims, the former Minister said 600 farmers had died by suicide under Congress rule, and thousands were still awaiting Rythu Bharosa or loan waiver benefits. He also said he had with him the names and phone numbers of 670 farmers in Revanth Reddy’s own Kodangal constituency who were denied Rythu Bharosa benefits.
He said the Chief Minister lacked even basic knowledge of river basins, and was skilled at theatrics and empty challenges, but fled from facts. Rama Rao also said Revanth Reddy was acting as a covert agent for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and working against Telangana’s interests.
Drawing a sharp contrast with the “Neelu, Nidhulu, Niyamakalu” (Water, Funds and Jobs) slogan coined by BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao and Telangana ideologue Prof K Jayashankar, Rama Rao alleged that Revanth Reddy was diverting Telangana’s water to Andhra Pradesh, funds to Delhi, and government jobs to his close aides.
He said under the Congress regime, Telangana was slipping back into the dark days of power cuts, fertilizer shortages, and political repression.
“This is nothing short of an Emergency-like atmosphere. The Indiramma Rajyam they speak of resembles a police State,” he said.
Earlier, BRS leaders observed a minute’s silence at the venue, paying tribute to the 600 farmers who had reportedly died by suicide since Congress came to power. A heavy police presence was deployed at the Press Club in anticipation of a Congress counter-event, with a vacant chair reserved for the Chief Minister.
However, no Congress leader turned up, and there were no confrontations. BRS leaders said they had booked the venue in advance to avoid disruption.
