TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy is known as a bitter critic of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and his family and for using every possible occasion to attack KCR and the first family. But his silence on KCR’s daughter and MLC K. Kavitha’s alleged role in the Delhi liquor scam has become the subject of hot debate in political circles. This surprised not only the TRS ranks but also those in the Congress because Kavitha has reportedly faced criticism of her own party leaders internally for fumbling on the issue. After being silent for a while, when Revanth finally talked, he was still “soft” towards Kavitha by never naming her, fuelling speculation that he was compelled to maintain silence on the Delhi liquor scam following reports of involvement of one of his close relatives.
BROTHERS TO DUEL IN MUNUGODE BYPOLL?
Even as the Congress gathers forces to safeguard its fortress Munugode in the bypolls, former constituency MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy’s brother Venkat Reddy continues to remain in a dilemma about taking an active part in campaigning against his sibling. Congress leaders not only in Telangana state but also in New Delhi tried to rope in the Bhongir MP, a star campaigner for the party, to canvass against his younger brother. Despite his assurances, Venkat Reddy is yet to walk the talk in this direction. As September begins and the Congress has already declared that it would fight it out with all the available resources at its disposal, the pressure on Venkat Reddy has only gone up. As the bypolls near, the elder brother’s decision is being eagerly awaited by brother and party alike.
POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD TOLD TO SHUT-UP
Keeping dirty secrets is not a very easy job, as any bureaucrat worth his or her allegiance to the rulers of the day only knows too well. Information that could lead to a better understanding among the people about their environment, particularly when there is much to be desired, can pollute and sully a government that depends on its image and not as much as on action to keep the masses safe from continued contamination of ground, air and water resources. The political grapevine has it that one government agency has perfected this information-hiding to an art, of course through gag instructions from the top of its own little labyrinthine pyramid. Efforts to elicit information in the pursuit of the public good from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board are met with a standard response from the staff and officials that they are under orders not to speak, let alone share any information with anyone. Queries, if any, should be directed to the top. But then, the official at the top is as inaccessible as a whiff of clean air in the city. Forget clean air, water or land, the Board itself needs a thorough scrubbing, according to some in the bureaucracy.
