KTR terms Congress rule in Telangana a disaster

KTR pointed to dwindling State revenues, a struggling agriculture sector, rising unemployment, and companies moving out of Telangana.

Hyderabad: In a scathing attack, BRS working president KT Rama Rao found the Congress rule in Telangana to be a disaster that poses a huge challenge for the BRS when it comes to power, to overcome the downfall and bring back the State to a decent position. He remarked that nothing much can be expected from the party that won on false guarantees and propaganda.

“They deceived people and now trying to get away with false narratives and propaganda. All they can do is distract and blame,” he said, emphasising the need for stringent electoral reforms to prevent political parties from misleading voters in the future.

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Participating in the #AskKTR question and answer session on social media platform X on Thursday, Rama Rao raised alarm over the economic decline under Congress’s rule. He pointed to dwindling State revenues, a struggling agriculture sector, rising unemployment, and companies moving out of Telangana. “Not sure about their plans to undo the damage they have done in very short time,” he said.

On environmental initiatives like the Musi River rejuvenation project and lake encroachment clearance, the former Minister argued that while the projects appear promising on paper, the real agenda is concealed. He reiterated that the BRS is not against the Musi rejuvenation, but against siphoning off public funds. “It is the country’s largest Scam in the making,” he said.

He also criticised the controversial HYDRA, calling it a tool for “blackmail and extortion” targeting builders and businessmen. “HYDRA is selective, harassing the poor and middle-class citizens, while the rich and mighty go untouched,” he noted.

The BRS working president shifted his focus on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s hypocrisy in encouraging defections in Telangana, while opposing them elsewhere. “Don’t be a hypocrite, Rahul Gandhi. Don’t preach what you can’t practice,” he said, asserting that Telangana has no local governance and is controlled from Delhi. “For Delhi, By Delhi, To Delhi – That’s Congress mark democracy,” he added.

He did not hesitate to speak about the secret collusion of the Congress and the BJP in Telangana, especially coordinated efforts between Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay. “BJP and Congress are shamelessly working in tandem in Telangana,” he stated, pointing to various incidents that indicate their collusion.

When asked about the BJP’s “One Nation, One Election” proposal, he questioned its feasibility, suggesting it might be just another empty promise as no legislation has yet been introduced. He expressed doubts about its practicality and genuine intent from the Centre.

When a netizen inquired about constitutional avenues to change the Congress government before its term ended, Rama Rao suggested for respecting the democratic process. Regarding Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s tenure, he observed that politics is a dynamic field and the Congress’s track record is unpredictable.

He was also critical of the Congress-led government for imposing Section 144 in Hyderabad for a full month, finding it an extreme measure for a major metropolitan city. On recent incidents of communal violence, he noted that the BRS prioritised law and order during its term, whereas under the Congress, the police are preoccupied with political vendettas and trivial matters. He emphasised the need for a dedicated Home Minister and giving a free hand to efficient police officers to ensure public safety.

When questioned about the possibility for Andhra Pradesh‘s capital, Amaravati, to surpass Hyderabad as an IT hub, the former Minister was skeptic, citing Hyderabad’s unique standing. “Chandrababu Naidu is an ambitious leader, but Hyderabad is in an orbit of its own. We once surpassed Bengaluru’s IT growth rate, but with Congress in charge, future here is uncertain,” he remarked.

On relations with TDP and YSRCP in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, he said they have good personal equation with top leadership of both the parties. “We might differ on issues, but broadly speaking, we have nothing personal against anyone per se,” he added.