Hyderabad: Even before the BRS could extricate itself from the mess created by its MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy’s alleged disrespectful comments on women, the BRS’ legislator from Huzurabad pushed his party leadership into a bigger controversy by abusing Serilingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi as “Andhrodu” and “Andhra settler”, who moved to Hyderabad for livelihood. Kaushik Reddy, who is not new to controversies, had on Wednesday offered sari and bangles to Aekapudi Gandhi for joining the Congress from the BRS.
Kaushik Reddy's comments abusing Andhra-origin people invited widespread condemnation from several quarters who said it amounts to insulting people based on nativity.
During an informal chat with media persons in New Delhi on Thursday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy lashed out at the BRS for reigniting the "Telangana sentiment" in an attempt to regain its political ground.
"The BRS has always sought votes, seats, and notes (currency notes) from Andhra-origin people, especially in Greater Hyderabad limits, where they played a crucial role in supporting the BRS," Revanth Reddy observed.
He further highlighted that the BRS is disrespecting the Andhra-origin people, who contributed immensely to the BRS’ electoral victories in the Assembly elections in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts.
The Chief Minister recalled that out of 27 Assembly seats in Greater Hyderabad limits, the BRS managed to win 18 because of the support of Andhra origin voters. "If not for the support of these Andhra-origin voters, the BRS would have got less than 20 seats in Assembly polls. It's these voters who saved the BRS’ face in the Assembly elections," he remarked.
“The true face of the BRS has been revealed through these comments,” Revanth Reddy said, calling on the opposition party’s leadership, including its party chief K. Chandrashekar Rao, to clarify their stance on Kaushik Reddy’s remarks. "Does Chandrashekhar Rao endorse these statements against the Andhra-origin people? Are BRS MLAs in Hyderabad and Rangareddy standing by these divisive comments?"
The Chief Minister also wondered why the BRS remained silent when Arekapudi Gandhi was with them for ten years. "If Chandrashekhar Rao remains silent, people will believe that Kaushik Reddy is speaking on behalf of the party leadership," Revanth Reddy said, urging that those who play on regional sentiments and insult communities should be expelled from the party.
"Chandrashekhar Rao had once promised that he would stand with the Andhra settlers, yet now his party, after using them for votes, turned against them," he added.
He also demanded a public apology from the KCR’s family, including BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao for Kaushik Reddy’s remarks.
"If Kaushik Reddy made these comments without the knowledge of Chandrashekhar Rao and Rama Rao, they should suspend him from the party. Otherwise, it’s clear that the leadership is complicit in this divisive narrative," the Chief Minister concluded.
