Kavitha slams CM Revanth over ‘hang KCR’ remark, urges KCR to counter allegations in Assembly

Hyderabad: Telangana Jagruthi president Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Friday condemned Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for allegedly saying that former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao deserved to be hanged over alleged injustices in river water utilisation.

Kavitha said that such controversial statements demean constitutional offices and the Telangana movement. Reacting sharply, she said that CM Revanth himself ‘should be hanged twice’, intensifying the political war of words over irrigation and water-sharing issues.

Remark on river utilisation row sparks row

The controversy erupted after CM Revanth, during a PowerPoint presentation on river water issues by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy to ruling Congress leaders on Thursday, said it would not be wrong if KCR and Harish Rao were hanged for the alleged injustice done to Telangana in river water utilisation during the BRS regime.

The remarks have since drawn widespread criticism, further heating up the political discourse in the State.

‘Unacceptable and outrageous’

Speaking to reporters at the premises of the Telangana Legislative Council, Kavitha said she was deeply angered by the Chief Minister’s remarks. “My blood is boiling to hear that the leader who spearheaded the Telangana movement is being spoken of in this manner,” she said.

The Telangana Jagruthi chief also asserted that CM Revanth's comments reflected political vendetta rather than responsible governance.

Kavitha urges KCR to speak in Assembly

Kavitha called upon KCR to personally address the Assembly on the Krishna River water dispute, saying only his intervention could effectively counter the allegations levelled by the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues.

She said the issue of river waters should not be left to younger leaders of the party and warned that silence from senior leadership could harm the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

Sharp jibe at Harish Rao

In a rare public criticism of her cousin and former minister T Harish Rao, Kavitha questioned his elevation as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, remarking sarcastically that a ‘bubble shooter’ had been given the post. Her comments underscored the growing internal strains within the BRS following her suspension and resignation.

Resignation as MLC

Kavitha said she had met Legislative Council Chairman G Sukhender Reddy to request acceptance of her resignation as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), which she had submitted in September.

She was suspended from the BRS for alleged anti-party activities and subsequently quit the party. Since then, she has been politically active through Telangana Jagruthi, which she founded during the Telangana statehood movement.