‘Salary without service’: CM Revanth calls out KCR for skipping LA budget session

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched a scathing attack on the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) for his persistent absence from the House during the budget session.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address on Thursday, the Chief Minister raised eyebrows by disclosing the financial cost of the LoP’s absence to the state exchequer.

`Salaries Without Service’

The Chief Minister revealed that since December 1, 2023, KCR has drawn a total of ₹1,06,56,674 in salaries and allowances despite not attending legislative proceedings.

"We need to take a firm decision against the practice of drawing salaries and allowances without attending the House," Reddy asserted. He noted that the government had expected the former CM to provide valuable suggestions and attend the unveiling of the 'Telangana Thalli' statue, but was met with "neglect and arrogance."

A Dictatorial Legacy

Drawing a sharp contrast between the current administration and the previous regime, Reddy accused the BRS leadership of failing to shed their "autocratic tendencies" even after losing power. "Even though kingdoms have vanished, we are still witnessing autocratic rulers. The BRS leaders continue to perceive themselves as kings and make a mockery of democracy by claiming the people made a mistake in electing the Congress," said CM Revanth Reddy.

Fact-Finding Committee on Encroachments

The session saw heated moments when the CM played old videos of KCR and KTR supporting the removal of encroachments during their tenure. Addressing KTR’s recent criticisms of the current demolition drives, Reddy offered to constitute a Fact-Finding Committee to compare encroachment regularizations and demolitions under both the BRS and Congress regimes.

"If we fail to protect our city and restore our lakes, future generations will never forgive us," Reddy said, emphasizing that his government's "HYDRAA" and lake restoration initiatives are essential for the city’s survival.

Vision 2047: A $3 Trillion Ambition

Moving beyond political sparring, the Chief Minister outlined a massive economic roadmap for the state. He highlighted the "Telangana Rising 2047" vision document, which aims to:

Achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2034.

Reach a $3 trillion economy by 2047.

Implement a comprehensive AI Policy to navigate the "impending AI Tsunami."

Reddy also detailed the state's classification into CURE, PURE, and RARE zones for balanced regional development and announced green initiatives, such as tax waivers for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and the free retrofitting of e-auto-rickshaws.

The Chief Minister invoked the legacies of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and P.V. Narasimha Rao, stating that his "People’s Government" is committed to structural reforms that will drive Telangana onto a fast-paced development trajectory despite a lack of cooperation from the opposition.