Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday branded the Congress party as the “permanent villain” in Telangana’s history. He accused it of repeated betrayal of the statehood movement and of disrespecting its legacy.
Speaking at Telangana Bhavan during Diksha Divas, Rao criticised the Congress for erasing the identity of Telangana over several decades. He also targeted the current leadership for belittling KCR’s pivotal role in securing statehood.
“During the Telangana movement, no one knew where the PCC chief was. Today, he speaks recklessly about KCR’s fast,” Rao said. He reminded the public that the Congress-led governments had pleaded with KCR to end his fast in 2009, as his health had become critical to the decision on Telangana.
Rao accused the Congress of having “blood-stained hands,” blaming its policies for the deaths of hundreds of youth. He added, “Without the three letters K-C-R, there would be no Telangana.” He challenged the party to prove its moral authority by making the ten MLAs it poached resign and contest fresh elections.
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He urged people to treat Diksha Divas as a day of defiance and pride, not just a date in history. According to Rao, the Congress has obstructed Telangana’s aspirations from 1950 to 2025. He stated that the day must remind citizens of decades of injustice.
Rao slammed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for calling Sonia Gandhi the “Bali Devatha of Telangana.” He clarified that BRS had merely thanked her after the formation of the state, but never gave her such a title.
He announced plans to remove Rajiv Gandhi’s statue at the Secretariat entrance. In its place, a statue of Telangana Talli would be installed. He said this would restore pride in the state’s identity.
Drawing comparisons to India’s freedom struggle, Rao linked KCR’s 2009 fast to events like Jallianwala Bagh and the Salt Satyagraha. He described the fast as a turning point that united all sections of society.
The slogan “KCR dies or Telangana comes” had electrified farmers, workers, lawyers, and others, he said. According to him, KCR’s leadership was comparable to Martin Luther King Jr., who stood alone yet resolute for a larger cause.
Rao concluded by saying Diksha Divas should be celebrated like Dussehra or Deepavali. It must remind people of the sacrifices made and the broken promises by the Congress.