Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced on Wednesday his readiness to fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to demand a fair share in Central funds for Telangana, if BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao joins him.
In response to a challenge from BRS leaders K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao during a heated Assembly debate on the Union Budget's discrimination against Telangana, Revanth Reddy stated his willingness to fast along with Chandrashekar Rao. "Let KCR, as the Leader of Opposition, come forward. I, as the Leader of the House, am ready to fast unto death at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Let us get the funds or sacrifice our lives," he declared, daring the BRS leaders to set a date for the protest in Delhi.
The Assembly session saw intense exchanges over the Congress government's resolution condemning the Centre's neglect of Telangana in the Union Budget.
Revanth Reddy clashed verbally with Rama Rao over Chandrashekhar Rao’s persistent absence from the Assembly, even during debates critical to Telangana’s interests. Rama Rao proposed that the entire Telangana cabinet along with CM should protest in Delhi against the Central government's discrimination towards Telangana. He assured the full support from all BRS MLAs, MLCs, and MPs for this dharna in Delhi.
Revanth Reddy questioned the BRS chief’s absence during crucial discussions, suggesting that Chandrashekhar Rao might be avoiding the session due to the fear of scrutiny from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In response, Rama Rao asserted that the BRS MLAs were capable of defending their party's position and criticised the state government for not informing the Opposition in advance about discussion topics.
“We have not come here in the management quota or by taking the names of father or grandfather. We rose to this level with hard work and commitment,” Revanth Reddy retorted, accusing BRS leaders of striking backroom deals in Delhi that led to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre neglecting Telangana in Union Budgets for the past ten years.
Rama Rao shot back, suggesting that Revanth Reddy himself had risen to power in payment quota through questionable means. He hinted that Revanth Reddy’s remarks about political legacies might also be directed at Congress leaders Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi.
Revanth Reddy highlighted Chandrashekhar Rao’s inconsistent stance toward the Modi government, noting the BRS chief's past support for policies like demonetisation and the Triple Talaq Bill, and for BJP candidates in Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections. He also accused the previous BRS government of mismanaging Telangana’s finances, leaving a trail of unpaid bills and economic instability.
Rama Rao defended the BRS’s record, attributing Telangana’s development over the past decade to the party's efforts despite limited support from the Centre. He lamented that the word "Telangana" had become prohibited in the Lok Sabha due to the BRS's absence, expressing concern that both the Congress and the BJP had marginalised the state, even after winning 8 Lok Sabha seats each in recent elections.
Harish Rao referred to a previous statement by Revanth Reddy, in which the Chief Minister advised him to hold a protest for farmers and suggested Rama Rao to fast unto death to address issues of unemployment. Harish Rao further questioned the Chief Minister's role, asking, "If you want us to do all these things, what will you do?"
