Telangana better off than neighboring state, says KTR; AP minister takes offence

Hyderabad: IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao said Telangana was better off than a 'neighboring state' in providing basic amenities.

At a meeting organized by CREDAI in Hyderabad on Friday, Rama Rao compared the development of Telangana with a neighboring state. He alleged there were no roads, electricity, and water in the neighboring state.

"Recently, one of my friends went to his native village in a neighboring state. After returning, he called me and requested to arrange four buses from each village of Telangana to the neighboring state. I asked why he was making this suggestion. My friend said that there are no roads, power, or water in the neighboring state. My friend said that he heaved a sigh of relief only after he returned to Telangana," Rama Rao said.

Reacting strongly to Rama Rao's remarks, AP Municipal Minister Botsa Satyanarayana said he recently visited Hyderabad and stayed in a hotel. "There was no power and the hotel management was dependent on a generator. I never disclosed these minor issues to anyone," he said.

KTR also quoted an unnamed BJP MP from North India saying he reached the program venue at Hyderabad within minutes. He said given the network of flyovers, he did not face any traffic blues. He even said that they do not have flyovers in the state," KTR said.

Later AP leader Jogi Ramesh joined the debate and subtly hit out at KTR. "Come to AP, you can see Amma Vodi, Asara, construction of houses for 31 lakh women, and other developmental and welfare programs," he said

Sensing the angst, KTR took to Twitter to clear his position. "it appears that an innocuous comment that I had made at a meeting earlier today may have caused some unintentional pain to my friends in AP. I enjoy a great brotherly equation with AP CM Jagan Garu & wish that the state prospers under his leadership," KTR tweeted.