BRS demands Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to step down

Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy accusing him of orchestrating large-scale corruption and turning Telangana into an “ATM for the Congress party”, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday called for Reddy’s immediate resignation.

Addressing a news conference at Telangana Bhavan, Rama Rao said “The ED’s findings confirm what BRS has been saying for years- Revanth Reddy has been collecting massive donations for Congress in return for posts and favors”.

Referring to the ED charge sheet in the National Herald case which had named Reddy for soliciting funds, he alleged that Revanth Reddy facilitated monetary transactions into the National Herald and Young India accounts.

He drew parallels with former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who stepped down amid corruption allegations, and demanded that Reddy follow suit or be ousted by the Congress high command. “Corruption is in the DNA of Congress. If Yediyurappa could resign, why is Revanth Reddy still clinging to power?” he questioned.

He demanded that the Congress leadership take immediate action against him for alleged involvement in multiple corruption scandals, including the National Herald case.

Rama Rao accused Revanth of maintaining a conspicuous silence when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, suggesting that the silence owed to his complicity in the financial irregularities.

“Almost every Congress leader responded when Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were named in the National Herald case, but Revanth Reddy chose to stay silent. He knows he was a party to it,” Rama Rao alleged.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister’s frequent visits to Delhi, he said he had been to the national capital as many as 44 times under various pretexts to “please his bosses-both official and unofficial.”

In a pointed jab, he suggested Reddy’s ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that Reddy meets Shah to secure his silence on his wrongdoings.

“Revanth Reddy runs to Delhi to appease his bosses, not just in Congress but also in the BJP. He seeks Amit Shah’s protection to cover up his scams,” Rama Rao claimed, questioning the Telangana BJP’s “golden silence” on Reddy’s alleged misdeeds.

Recalling the ED raids on Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on September



27, 2024, Rama Rao questioned why no action had been taken despite reports of a massive cash haul. “Why is the ED silent 150 days after raiding Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy? Is the BJP shielding Congress leaders in Telangana?” he asked.

Rama Rao also pointed to the Rs 187 crore Valmiki scandal and an alleged Rs 45 crore payout to Telangana Congress leaders, as mentioned in the ED’s case diary, yet lamented the lack of a proper inquiry. “The identity of the beneficiary remains shrouded in mystery. Why is there no probe?” he demanded.

He accused Congress leaders of their involvement in the civil supplies scam and said there was no action so far. The FCI also did not react to it. Recalling the remarks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s May 11, 2024, visit to Hyderabad, where he alleged the imposition of an “RR Tax” in Telangana, he said “No agency, not even the CBI, has responded to these serious allegations,” Rama Rao said.

The BRS leader further alleged that Reddy’s brother-in-law, associated with Sodha Construction and Shrujan Reddy, was awarded Rs 1,135 crore worth of contracts in the AMRUT scam, despite lacking qualifications.

“This is a blatant misuse of power,” he said, noting that former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had submitted details to the concerned Union Minister, yet no response has been forthcoming.

Rama Rao also raised concerns about the Hyderabad Central University land issue, where a central empowered committee reportedly flagged financial fraud and called for a probe. “The committee has clearly mentioned financial irregularities, yet the BJP and central agencies remain mute,” he said.

Criticising the Telangana BJP’s inaction, Rama Rao contrasted it with the Karnataka BJP’s vocal demands for the removal of DK Shivakumar from the Karnataka Cabinet over similar allegations. “Why is the Telangana BJP observing a golden silence? Are they complicit in protecting Revanth Reddy?” he asked, accusing a section of the media of also remaining silent on these issues.

In a direct appeal to the people of Telangana, Rama Rao urged the BJP to act on these scandals and demanded that a specialized agency be entrusted with investigating all allegations.

“We give the BJP one month to come forward and act. If they continue to protect this corrupt Congress government, we will meet the Governor, seek the prosecution of the Chief Minister, and expose the BJP at the Centre as well,” he warned.