Revanth Reddy remains silent even after KT Rama Rao responds to challenge for debate

A war of words has erupted between Congress and BRS leaders after Chief Minister challenged BJP and BRS leaders to a debate on the Congress government’s initiatives for farmers’ welfare, development, employment generation, and sharing of Krishna and Godavari river waters

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy continues to maintain silence on his challenge for a debate on issues concerning the farming community, river water sharing, and employment, even after BRS working president KT Rama Rao accepted the challenge and suggested venues for the debate.

A war of words has erupted between Congress and BRS leaders after the Chief Minister challenged BJP and BRS leaders to a debate on the Congress government’s initiatives for farmers’ welfare, development, employment generation, and sharing of Krishna and Godavari river waters in the State.

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Addressing a public meeting at LB Stadium on July 4, the Chief Minister had listed out measures taken by the Congress government for farmers’ welfare. He stated that Rs 1.04 lakh crore had been spent over the past 18 months for agriculture-related schemes, including the implementation of the crop loan waiver and the provision of 60,000 jobs.

“I invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy or BRS Chief K Chandrashekhar Rao or anyone for a debate in Assembly or Parliament, to clear their doubts,” Revanth Reddy had said at the event.

Responding positively, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday said the Chief Minister was free to choose any venue for the debate, including his native village Kondareddypally, Chintamadaka, Kodangal, Gajwel, the State Assembly or even at the Ambedkar Statue. Alternatively, he suggested the Chief Minister could come to the Press Club at 11 am on July 8 for the debate.

However, the Chief Minister has not responded to the BRS working president’s counter-challenge. Interestingly, his cabinet colleagues found fault with Rama Rao for issuing the counter.

Panchayat Raj Minister D Anasuya insisted that the Chief Minister had challenged BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao, not KT Rama Rao, while Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the debate should be held in the Assembly and not at the Press Club.

Amid the ongoing war of words, the Chief Minister flew to New Delhi on Monday morning to meet a few Union Ministers. He is expected to return on Tuesday evening, by which time the slot suggested by Rama Rao would have elapsed.

The issue can be traced to the Chief Minister’s claims of the Congress government waiving crop loans worth Rs 21,000 crore, while the BRS has consistently pointed out, with specific instances on how many farmers were still struggling to get their loans cleared.

Similarly, the Congress government had promised Rs 15,000 per acre under the Rythu Bharosa scheme. However, only Rs 12,000 per acre was released. After skipping assistance during the previous season, the Congress government started disbursing funds ahead of the local body polls, another point on which the BRS has questioned Revanth Reddy.

The BRS has also countered Revanth Reddy’s claim of ‘Rythu Rajyam’ by highlighting data on farmer suicides in the State.