Revanth Reddy recalls ABVP past, advises Modi ahead of 2029 polls

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy recalled his association with the ABVP and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should win people’s hearts rather than divide the nation. He also criticised the Centre over Telangana projects and discussed education, language and the TDP.

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has once again put the Congress high command in an awkward position by recalling his association with the ABVP and suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should win people’s hearts to emerge victorious in the next Lok Sabha elections.

“If Modiji wants to form the government for the fourth time, he needs to win hearts but should not divide the nation. As an ABVP karyakarta, this is my concern,” he said while participating in a conclave in New Delhi on Monday.

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Revanth Reddy also accused the Prime Minister of not extending the required support to Telangana. “On the personal front, he treats me well. But he has not sanctioned Metro rail expansion, Regional Ring Road, National Highways and many other issues are pending with the Prime Minister,” he said. He also alleged that the semiconductor unit had been taken away from Telangana and sanctioned to Gujarat.

Despite facing criticism over his opposition to the formation of Telangana, the Chief Minister claimed that he had participated in the separate State agitation. “I worked actively in Vidyarthi Parishad and then I participated in the Telangana agitation,” Revanth Reddy claimed.

He made the claim after being labelled ‘Rifle Reddy’ for carrying a rifle in his car during the Telangana agitation, when he was associated with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Revanth Reddy also stated that Telangana was formed in 2017, drawing attention to the incorrect reference to the year of State formation.

In what could trigger a debate, the Chief Minister took a sharp U-turn from his earlier stand on English and its significance, especially in securing jobs. In the past, he observed that language does not help in acquiring knowledge but was only meant for communication. “In America, a beggar seeks alms in English and even bathroom cleaner speaks English. Do Japanese, Chinese and German people speak English,” he had argued in the past.

However, while speaking about the reforms introduced in the education sector in the State and the need for students to acquire skills, Revanth Reddy contradicted his earlier observation, saying, “Students will anyway learn regional language English is a job creating language and how to communicate with people.”

In another observation, the Chief Minister said the relevance of the TDP declined in Telangana after the State’s division. “This was mainly due to a DNA problem as its leadership is from Andhra and the party is in Telangana. Then I decided to join the Congress,” Revanth Reddy said.