Revanth tears into KCR over Krishna water betrayal, dares him to public debate
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, accusing him of compromising Telangana’s Krishna water rights and sabotaging the state’s irrigation future. Speaking at a PowerPoint briefing on Krishna river disputes and Kaleshwaram failures at Praja Bhavan, Revanth said the Congress government will confront BRS-era misdeeds head-on, including in the legislature if needed.
He challenged KCR to a public debate on irrigation failures and project decisions, asserting that Congress was ready for an all-party, expert-driven discussion in the Assembly. “Not in pubs and clubs. Let’s debate in the House. Bring your facts, I’ll bring mine,” Revanth said, warning he would not stoop to KCR’s “vulgar rhetoric” but would expose every wrongdoing with documentary proof.
Revanth accused KCR of scripting a “death warrant” for Krishna basin farmers by allowing water to be diverted to Andhra Pradesh through inaction. He said had Telangana asserted its rights at Joorala, or safeguarded Krishna’s flow into the state, Rayalaseema’s drawals could’ve been blocked. He blamed BRS for both water loss and power deficits, citing how decommissioning of hydel power impacted energy supply.
He slammed the BRS government for scaling down water allocations and jacking up estimates while failing to complete a single major project in 10 years. “They spent ₹11 lakh per acre to irrigate just 15 lakh acres. We did 54 lakh acres at ₹93,000 per acre,” Revanth said, calling the Kaleshwaram shift a fiscal and hydrological catastrophe.
He accused KCR of bartering Telangana’s rights to appease external interests. “You removed ayacut in Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda. Why? For whom?” he asked, pointing out the deletion of Pranahita-Chevella’s 24, 25, and 26 packages and the removal of 4 lakh acres from project plans.
Revanth invited KCR to participate in a structured Assembly debate alongside irrigation experts and stakeholders, and even offered to send ministers to Erravalli farmhouse for a mock assembly if KCR’s health didn’t permit public appearance. “Let’s stop this street drama. If it helps Telangana, I’ll come to your farmhouse,” he said.
The CM reiterated his resolve to protect Telangana’s rights. “Even if God stands in our way, we’ll fight. This is not your private jagir,” he said, lashing out at Harish Rao’s alleged objection to Praja Bhavan meetings. “This is not a den. It belongs to the people. Anyone can walk in.”