Why is KTR afraid of undergoing a drug test? asks Revanth Reddy

Revanth Reddy complimented former MP Konda Vishveshwar Reddy for accepting the challenge. However, he said KTR got angry and started levelling personal allegations.

As part of the 'White Challenge', Revanth Reddy, along with senior leaders and hundreds of workers, reached the Gun Park on Monday morning. Former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy also reached the Gun Park but KTR was missing. The wait for KTR eventually turned into a dharna with Congress workers raising slogans against the TRS government demanding action against the drug mafia.

Addressing the dharna, Revanth Reddy alleged that Akun Sabharwal, an IPS officer who headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the drugs case, was transferred to shield the drug mafia and all those who were connected with it. He said that the SIT investigation led to shocking revelations and its report could have exposed several people. Further, the SIT report was made inaccessible even to the Central agencies who wanted to investigate the case and take necessary action, the MP alleged.

He said that the drug abuse in Telangana has reached an alarming proportion and alleged that some officials who were involved with the probe had revealed that drugs were being supplied to several pubs across Telangana, especially Hyderabad. He said drugs were being supplied even to educational institutions and 13-14 year old's were getting addicted to them. He said that the SIT findings were ignored by the state government and no action was taken against those involved in such illegal activities.

Revanth said he saw the drug menace as an immediate threat to society and approached the High Court seeking action against the drug mafia. When he again exposed that SIT was not sharing information with the Central agencies about their findings, KTR tried to dilute the issue by raising irrelevant questions. Hence, he had posed a 'White Challenge' to KTR and Viveshwar Reddy. "I thought that KTR would reach Gun Park at least half-an-hour before my arrival, but he remained elusive for reasons known only to him," the TPCC chief said.

The TPCC chief said that the 'White Challenge' initiative could bring a positive change in society and raise awareness against drug abuse. All the public representatives, including KTR, must accept the challenge and tell society that they neither consume drugs nor support its circulation. He said this would send a strong message against drug abuse across the country.

Revanth said the rise in drug abuse was responsible for the increase in the crime rate, especially in Hyderabad. He said that the accused in the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Singareni Colony had committed the heinous and brutal crime under the influence of drugs. He said KTR had taken the responsibility of developing Saidabad and surrounding areas but had failed to stop the sale of drugs and ganja in the area which had resulted in the rape and murder of an innocent.

He further added that the previous Congress government had permitted only six pubs in 5-star hotels. However, the TRS had permitted 60 pubs in the last seven years. He said most of the pubs were being owned and operated by the kin of ministers and ruling party leaders. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao should go on surprise visits at night on weekends to check how anti-social activities were ruining the society, Ravanth added.