ABP Southern Rising Summit 2024: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) has made strong remarks against the Congress-led government in Telangana, challenging Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to a lie detector test over phone tapping allegations. Speaking at the ABP Southern Rising Summit 2024, KTR labeled the Congress government a “disaster” for the state, criticizing it for not fulfilling its promises.

KTR accused the Congress of indulging in “aaya Ram gaya Ram politics” and not complying with anti-defection laws. He added, “Revanth Reddy and the Congress government are a disaster for the state. They promised magic in 100 days; 300 days have passed and we ask him what happened. Revanth Reddy became a half surety. Six guarantees halved.”

Challenging Revanth Reddy on the phone tapping allegations, KTR said, “I want to ask Revanth if his government is not tapping the phones of its own ministers and mine? Ask him to answer. I know whose phones are being tapped by the Revanth government, whether they are members of the ruling government or the opposition. He knows it too. Our government will return after three years; that will haunt him then.”

He even offered to undergo a lie detector test, stating, “Ask Revanth Reddy… Bring a lie detector test; I am willing to take it. Ask him to take it. Revanth Reddy Govt tapping phones.”

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KTR on BRS loss in Telangana polls and allegations against KCR Govt

Reflecting on BRS’s performance in the previous Assembly elections, KTR acknowledged the loss of 14 seats but considered it a “new learning experience”. He attributed the decline in anti-incumbency performance to a communication gap, saying, “Every government faces anti-incumbency after 10 years. There is a fatigue factor. Perception management is where we haven’t done well.” He highlighted the achievements of the BRS government such as creating 1.60 lakh jobs in nine years and increasing the wages of government employees by 73%. However, he admitted that these achievements were not effectively communicated to young people, resulting in a loss of support.

KTR lauded Congress’s poll strategy, stating, “I have to give credit where credit is due: Congress has done well with its imaginative six-guarantee poll campaign. It was a well-thought-out plan, especially since our government already met the basic needs of the people with water and electricity provided, the public felt they could demand more from Congress.”

On his new role as opposition MP, KTR expressed his satisfaction saying, “I am grateful to the people of Telangana for giving us two mandates… Now it is a new role to play the role of constructive opposition. Hold the government accountable, make sure they don’t make mistakes, make sure they deliver on the promises they made. It’s a great role. I’m glad about that.”

Addressing allegations of arrogance against the KCR family, KTR remarked, “When you are confident, you can be cocky and arrogant… When someone like me, who is the son of the Chief Minister, is a performing minister and doing well, accusations like arrogance and corruption are made up to bring us down.”

KTR also slammed the BJP, accusing them of targeting opposition leaders through law enforcement agencies. “Witch-hunting of politicians has become a fad in India now. Those who are on their side are safe and ED will not go after them. But if one is not with BJP, then they will come after you,” he claimed. .

Analyzing Congress promises, KTR said, “Congress should be asked where are the six guarantees. They promised to deliver in 100 days… People were taken for a ride by Congress. I think people have already realized their mistakes. Let’s hope we get another chance.”

On allegations of going after the Opposition during the BRS rule, he remarked, “What we did was the constitutionally permitted merger; if two-thirds of a party’s members agree, it is considered a motion. However, when only ten people in a party decide to leave, it is called a defection, which is governed by anti-defection laws.”

During the summit, KTR also referred to Revanth Reddy as a “cheap minister” for his remarks and defended the record of the BRS government during his tenure.