Revanth Reddy takes a jibe at former CM KCR in Assembly

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched a scathing attack on former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and the BRS party during a discussion on the Appropriation Bill in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Revanth Reddy mocked KCR's claims of scrutinising the government's failures, stating he came prepared with a "bulletproof jacket" in anticipation of KCR's criticisms.

The Chief Minister urged KCR to move beyond cinematic dialogues and engage in substantive discussions on policy matters. He called for the BRS to provide constructive suggestions on the Dharani land policy, emphasising the need for meaningful debate rather than mere criticism. He also ridiculed KTR, referring to him as "100% artificial and 0% intelligent," questioning his knowledge of Assembly protocols, particularly his comments on officials who were not present.

Revanth Reddy announced plans to develop a new city in Mucherla, positioning it as a future urban hub with metro connectivity. He criticised the BRS for failing to extend the Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) to the airport, suggesting financial conspiracies behind the decision. He accused the previous administration of neglecting the Old City and Karimnagar, contrasting their promises with his government's practical approach to urban development.

The Chief Minister highlighted alleged corruption in the Bathukamma saree scheme, questioning why sarees were sourced from Surat instead of being made by local weavers in Sircilla. He claimed that women rejected the sarees and accused BRS leaders of pocketing commissions. Revanth Reddy asserted that his government had cleared Rs 100 crore in pending payments for the scheme and criticised the BRS for awarding contracts to proxies.

Revanth Reddy also addressed the state of sports infrastructure, lamenting the neglect of stadiums in Hyderabad that once hosted the Asian Games. He promised to provide Group 1 jobs to athletes like Mohammad Siraj and Nikhat Zareen and to build international-standard stadiums to nurture young talent.

On the pharmaceutical front, Revanth Reddy criticised the BRS's plans for large-scale pharma companies, advocating instead for smaller pharma villages to prevent environmental degradation. He announced plans to integrate artificial intelligence into agriculture and create an AI hub, taking another jab at KTR's intelligence.

Revanth Reddy outlined his administration's future policies in agriculture, sports, and healthcare, promising affordable medical care for the poor and transforming Hyderabad into a tourism hub. He called on the BRS to play the role of a responsible opposition and contribute to policy discussions.

Responding to KTR's remarks about the Congress government not giving representation to minorities in the state cabinet, Revanth Reddy highlighted the absence of female ministers during the BR's party tenure from 2014 to 2019.