Congress, BRS go head-to-head against 'controversial' remarks from KTR, Revanth; demand apology

Hyderabad: Many Congress leaders and workers staged a protest in Hyderabad on Tuesday to condemn IT Minister KT Rama Rao’s comments on All-India Congress Committee (AICC) leader Rahul Gandhi.

The protest was led by Hyderabad District Congress Committee (DCC) president Sameer Waliullah and Mahila Congress president Sunita Rao. The Congress workers burnt the effigies of KCR and KTR and raised slogans against them.

Speaking to media, Sameer Waliullah said that KTR’s comments were inappropriate and ignorant. He said that the Congress party has played a significant role in the transformation of agriculture in India.

“The Congress party has waived off crop loans and freed farmers from their debts. For the first time in the country, Andhra Pradesh started revolutionary changes by giving free electricity to agriculture,” he said.

“India, which used to struggle to produce enough food for its people, is now a major exporter of food to over 250 countries. Projects like Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam, and Sriram Sagar, built by previous Congress administrations, have greatly increased agricultural output by providing irrigation to millions of acres of land. The Congress party has played a crucial role in transforming India from a food-deficient nation to a net exporter of food grains,” he said while asking minister KTR to sit through some history lessons.

Sameer Waliullah said, “Under the previous Congress regime, crop loans were waived off, benefiting farmers. Andhra Pradesh introduced free electricity for agriculture, a revolutionary change in the country. While Congress improved farmers’ lives, KTR worked as a dishwasher in an American hotel. K Chandrashekar Rao became chief minister due to Congress granting Telangana statehood, and KTR became a minister for being K Chandrashekar Rao’s son. KTR has no stature to comment on Rahul Gandhi. He is just trying to divert attention from the power scam.”

The Congress leader said, “BRS leaders lost sleep after Rahul Gandhi’s Rythu Declaration in Warangal on May 6, 2022. Rahul Gandhi assured crop loan waivers up to Rs 2 lakh, Rs 15,000 per acre annually, and fair crop prices. KTR’s personal attacks reflect his frustration after farmers welcomed Rahul Gandhi’s announcements.”

Sunitha Rao said, “The BRS government failed to fulfil promises made to farmers in both the 2014 and 2018 elections. Crop loans remain unpaid, and free fertilizers or seed subsidies are ignored. Farmers received no compensation for crop losses due to natural disasters. Telangana is the only state without crop insurance. Farmers will teach BRS a lesson in the upcoming elections. KTR’s inappropriate comments against Rahul Gandhi are a diversion tactic.”

She demanded an unconditional apology from KTR to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. Otherwise, farmers and Congress members won’t allow BRS leaders in their villages, she warned.

Dr Sravan hits back against Revanth

On the other hand, BRS Hyderabad district in-charge Dr Sravan Dasoju has written an open letter to the AICC and Congress party high command, expressing serious concerns about the misconduct of Revanth Reddy, president of the Telangana Congress.

Dr Dasoju accused Reddy of insulting and disrespecting the transgender community and marginalised sections of society through derogatory language and abuse. The letter questioned the AICC’s endorsement of such behaviour and calls for Reddy’s removal from his position.

According to Dr Dasoju, Reddy’s actions violate constitutional provisions and various laws, including the Indian Penal Code and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. His letter to the party highlighted how Revanth’s actions are against Telangana’s ethos, where respect and honour are shown to all sections of society without discrimination. Dr Dasoju urged the AICC and the party high command to take action, remove Reddy from his position, and give an unconditional apology for his behaviour.

Dr Dasoju said, “Did the AICC and the party high command give any special license to TPCC President Revanth Reddy to brazenly indulge in intimidation, filthy abuses, and derogatory language to insult, humiliate, and hurt the people of Telangana, including the Transgender community and other backward classes, farmers and poorer sections of society, for the petty politics of the Congress? They must remove him, as he does not deserve to be the leader of any political party, and compel him to tender an unconditional apology to the communities he has insulted.”