Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao said chief minister Revanth Reddy and ministers retreated from a debate on state debts and other issues after throwing open challenges. KTR stated that the entire state witnessed the “sheer cowardice” of the ruling party after open challenges for debate.He said that the BRS prepared for the debate and even had specially arranged a chair and a shawl at Telangana Bhavan, waiting for over three hours for minister Jupally Krishna Rao, who said he would visit the BRS headquarters. “Instead of turning up, the minister chose to hide, and the govt orchestrated high drama elsewhere,” KTR said.Addressing a news conference at Telangana Bhavan condemned the preventive arrest of BRS leader T Harish Rao and others.“This govt lacks the spine to face us in a democratic debate. Sitting in safe havens and hurling challenges while using the police force to suppress the opposition exposes the moral degradation of this regime,” KTR slammed.KTR challenged the CM to immediately convene a special session of the legislative assembly if the govt has the courage to face facts. “Give us the floor without abruptly cutting off our microphones, and we will thoroughly expose the two-and-a-half years of hollow governance and corruption of this Congress regime,” he said.The BRS working president accused the govt of resorting to ‘Shikhandi politics’ to divert public attention from its administrative failures and the “420 unfulfilled electoral promises.”He said while official RBI and CAG reports clearly state that the previous BRS govt’s debt stood at ₹2.80 lakh crore, KTR said both the CM and deputy CM are misleading citizens with contradictory, fabricated numbers.Criticising the BJP, KTR questioned their silence on the alleged ‘RR Tax’ collection in the state, despite the prime minister himself publicizing it.“Why is there no investigation into the massive corruption in AMRUT tenders? How are BJP MPs securing lucrative contracts under a Congress regime? The secret pact and collusion between the Congress and the BJP are now wide open before the people of Telangana,” KTR remarked.Reiterating his party’s commitment to the people, KTR stated that the BRS would not let the govt off the hook. The party will challenge the govt’s decision to place nearly one crore acres of land under the prohibited list, which is causing immense distress to farmers.Challenging minister Ponguleti, KTR stated, “We built one lakh double-bedroom houses in Hyderabad. If you have the capability, build at least one lakh and one houses to prove your mettle.” BRS would soon launch massive state-wide agitations, including Rythu Sangrama Sadassulu (Farmers’ struggle convocations) and youth-student conventions, to unmask the Congress govt’s betrayal, he said.
