Revanth Reddy’s flip-flops on Modi, Gujarat model continue

Chief Minister's frequent contradictory statements leave many in political circles, including Congress leaders, amused

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s contradictory statements on key issues and flip-flops over Prime Minister Narendra Modi continue unabated, leaving many in political circles, including Congress leaders, amused.

Consider this. On March 2, the Chief Minister took many by surprise when he said the Prime Minister was prepared to support Telangana and address pending issues but Union Minister G Kishan Reddy was blocking projects. The issue was not at the Centre but here in Telangana as the Union Minister was blocking development, he alleged at a public meeting in Wanaparthy.

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Contradicting his statements at the India Today conclave on March 7, the Chief Minister alleged that the Prime Minister was diverting prospective investors to Gujarat. Investors were being given undue advantage for investing in Gujarat’s Gift City but the same was not being extended to Hyderabad, he had said.

Interestingly, on March 4 last year, at a public meeting in Adilabad, the Chief Minister had said if Telangana was to develop comprehensively, it had to follow the Gujarat model. He had even called the Prime Minister “Bade Bhai” (big brother) and sought his support for Telangana.

Again in sharp contrast to his statements, the Chief Minister at the India Today conclave said the Gujarat model was outdated. It was like Test cricket and the Telangana model was 20-20 cricket, he likened, adding that, unlike the Gujarat model, the Telangana model was all about welfare and development.

The contradictions were not limited to the Prime Minister but to a few other issues as well.

On August 23 last year, the Chief Minister participated in a protest against the Adani Group in the city as per the Congress party’s directions. “When the party gives a call, irrespective of their designations, one has to follow. That’s the reason I am participating in this protest,” Revanth Reddy had said.

At the India Today conclave, when he was asked about the Congress high command getting irritated about the Chief Minister’s bonhomie with the Prime Minister, Revanth Reddy replied: “Government is different and the party is different. There is a difference between party politics and government. Being a Chief Minister, I have to respect the Prime Minister and politically I will follow the party’s orders.”

On declining Gautam Adani’s Rs 100 crore donation to Skill University after the Congress party’s objection, the Chief Minister said: “Party did not object, but opposition objected.”