KTR challenges Revanth Reddy for open debate on Congress misrule, State finances and farm distress

BRS working president KT Rama Rao tore into Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, challenging him to an open public debate on the Congress government’s performance, State finances and farm distress during its 30-month rule. He lashed out at the Chief Minister for damaging Telangana’s reputation through repeated claims that the State was bankrupt.

Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Rama Rao said he was ready to debate the Chief Minister anywhere in Telangana, on any subject related to governance, farmers, employment or the State’s economy. He challenged Revanth Reddy to choose the venue, time and topic, asserting that he would back his arguments with official data and evidence. He declared that he would resign from the Assembly and retire from politics if he failed to substantiate his allegations against the Congress government.

The former Minister took strong exception to the Chief Minister’s repeated references to Telangana as a bankrupt State, alleging that such remarks tarnished the State’s reputation. He stated that no Chief Minister who genuinely cared for the State would describe it in such terms and accused Revanth Reddy of making inconsistent statements that undermined public confidence.

Questioning the Chief Minister’s frequent visits to New Delhi, Rama Rao asked why Revanth Reddy had travelled to the national capital 72 times in 30 months despite alleging



that Telangana received little support from the Centre. He said instead of repeatedly visiting Delhi, the Chief Minister should focus on delivering effective governance in the State.

Rejecting the government’s narrative on Telangana’s finances, the BRS working president maintained that the State emerged as one of the country’s fastest-growing economies under the previous BRS government led by K Chandrashekhar Rao. He said Revanth Reddy had been citing contradictory debt figures ranging from Rs 6 lakh crore to Rs 8 lakh crore despite the Union government placing Telangana’s outstanding debt at around Rs 2.78 lakh crore in Parliament. He accused the Congress government of deliberately misrepresenting the State’s financial position.

“If Telangana is facing financial stress, it is because of corruption and financial mismanagement by the Chief Minister, his family members, Ministers and Congress leaders. The government is using exaggerated financial narratives to justify its inability to fulfil election promises,” he said.

Rama Rao devoted considerable attention to the condition of farmers, accusing the Congress government of failing to implement its key commitments. He stated that promised benefits worth more than Rs 1.13 lakh crore remained unpaid, including dues under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, farm loan waiver commitments, and assistance promised to tenant farmers and agricultural labourers.