War of words: Jagadeesh Reddy, Uttam Kumar trade insults during meeting at Suryapet

Hyderabad: A meeting on control farming and planning held at Suryapet collectorate in Telangana on 31 May turned ugly when Telangana energy minister Jagadeesh Reddy and Nalgonda MP and state Congress president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy got into a heated argument.

The minister was unhappy when Mr. Uttam objected to his speech on the farm loan waiver and called him a coward who ran away from the state Assembly when the Chief Minister announced the loan waiver for farmers in the state.

An angry Uttam retaliated and said his party has started numerous welfare measures for people across the country. As the argument continued, Mr. Jagadeesh Reddy said Mr Uttam was a senior leader and should keep calm and listen to the proceedings first like he did when the MP spoke on the issue. However, Mr. Uttam raised objections when the minister raised his voice and reminded him that he was the chief of the state Congress unit.

Mr. Jagadeesh also took potshots at the Nalgonda MP and said many of his party members, including leaders from Suryapet district, don't want him as their chief. In reply, Mr. Uttam said that it was their bad fortune that the people of Suryapet had him as their minister. This continued for quite sometime before other leaders and officials intervened.