Revanth calls KTR a non-reliable Indian', KTR says Revanth is a snake'

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao had a heated exchange of words in the Legislative Assembly on Saturday, as a debate on the Motion of Thanks by the Governor turned into a barrage of accusations and counters.

The atmosphere in the Assembly took a sharp dip when Revanth Reddy called Rama Rao a “non-reliable Indian”, in an apparent dig at Rama Rao’s return from the US to enjoy power in the government for nine years. He also chided Rama Rao saying his political career was “under management quota”, referencing the dynastic politics at play in the pink party.

Referring to Rama Rao’s criticism of ‘Indiramma Rajyam (Indira Gandhi’s rule)’, Reddy said: “This is what happens when non-reliable Indians (NRIs) join politics."

Rama Rao quickly retaliated, referencing Sonia Gandhi, saying: “A party which is led by NRI cannot point fingers at me.”

“You secured TPCC post under payment quota. Your own party leaders said that you purchased the TPCC chief post for crores,” Rama Rao said, countering Revanth Reddy’s ‘management quota’ remark.

The Chief Minister went on to slam Rama Rao for calling the Governor’s address “politically and intellectually bankrupt”, saying he felt ashamed for the pink party while hearing the speech. Rama Rao had called the Governor’s speech “lies”, saying: “We are ready to offer constructive criticism if the Governor spoke the truth.”

While Revanth Reddy also blamed the BRS for “failing to give jobs, failing to stop farmer suicides, and failing to stop migration of people to other places in search of livelihood”, Rama Rao sought to put the Congress in its place by reminding the Chief Minister of the party’s thing margin of having 65 MLAs, with 54 in opposition.

“The BRS’ vote share in the elections was less by a mere 1.85 per cent than what Congress got. BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao told the party MLAs to give three months to Congress,” Rama Rao said, in a veiled threat.

The Chief Minister, countering the arguments from Rama Rao, said: “There are some NRIs who do not understand democracy and democratic spirit, and there is a ‘non reliable Indian’ who got into the government under management quota, and he is here today.”

Rama Rao also took a dig at Revanth Reddy saying the current situation in Congress was like that of a snake that slips into an ant hill and takes over. He said the Chief Minister did not know the difference between Rythu Bima and ‘panta bima (crop insurance)’, adding that the Chief Minister was not elected by the people but was nominated by Delhi.

The BRS MLA’s criticism of the Chief Minister was countered by health minister Damodar Rajnarasimha, who said it was a practice in the Congress to follow the high command’s orders.