Hyderabad: Government Whip Adi Srinivas on Thursday defended Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and criticised KTR remarks made on the birth anniversary of Telangana ideologue Prof. K. Jayashankar. He accused the BRS Working President of indulging in cheap politics on the occasion.
Addressing a press conference at the CLP Media Centre, Adi Srinivas alleged that K. Chandrashekar Rao and K.T. Rama Rao had failed to honour Prof. Jayashankar or Telangana activists during the BRS government’s tenure. Moreover, he said the previous government neither installed Jayashankar’s statue nor declared his native village, Akkampet, as a revenue village despite repeated requests.
He said the Congress government issued GO No. 405 after assuming office. Further, it declared Akkampet a revenue village. He also alleged that while Prof. Jayashankar had envisioned Telangana as a surplus-budget State, the previous BRS government had burdened it with debt.
KTR remarks draw Congress response
Adi Srinivas said KTR had no moral right to criticise the Gandhi family. Meanwhile, he questioned KTR’s remarks against Congress leaders from Jawaharlal Nehru to Sonia Gandhi. He asked whether Sonia Gandhi deserved criticism after playing a key role in the formation of Telangana.
Responding to KTR’s comments on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s Delhi visits, Adi Srinivas said the Chief Minister travelled to the national capital to secure funds. In addition, he said Revanth Reddy visited Delhi to pursue Telangana’s interests. He added that the Chief Minister would travel as many times as necessary for the State’s development.
He also questioned why the previous BRS government constructed Telangana Bhavan in Delhi. Further, he asked why it renamed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi while expanding its activities across the country.
However, Adi Srinivas rejected KTR’s claim that N. Chandrababu Naidu was Revanth Reddy’s mentor. He said the people of Telangana were the Chief Minister’s true guides and supporters.
He accused BRS leaders of continuing political attacks instead of introspection after their electoral defeat. Finally, he alleged that KTR and Harish Rao had politicised the Kannepalli pump house issue despite the rapid filling of Yellampalli reservoir. He said the government was praying for good rains and farmers’ welfare. He advised the Opposition to support farmers instead of making negative remarks.