KTR Hits Back At Pawan, Defends Telangana Identity

KTR asserted that Telangana belongs to its people and said no outsider can dictate the state’s political future.

Addressing a Meet the Press programme in Hyderabad, KTR responded to Pawan Kalyan’s question, “Is Telangana your father’s jagir?” He said Telangana is indeed the land of its people and the result of decades of sacrifices, struggles, and aspirations.

KTR questioned Pawan Kalyan’s claims about expanding Jana Sena in Telangana. He pointed out that Jana Sena had already contested elections in the state in alliance with the BJP during previous elections.

Therefore, he asked what was new about the party’s political ambitions in Telangana.

He also rejected allegations that regional identity politics is dangerous. Referring to the movement for Andhra State led by Potti Sriramulu, KTR questioned whether that struggle could also be termed regionalism.

KTR said Telangana has a strong history of resistance and sacrifice. He stated that people of the state do not need lessons on patriotism from anyone.

He recalled Telangana’s struggle against the Nizam regime and the long movement that eventually led to statehood in 2014.

Furthermore, he accused the BJP of practicing “economic nationalism” while allegedly diverting investments and industries away from Telangana. He claimed several projects that could have benefited Telangana were shifted to Gujarat.

KTR said BRS respects Pawan Kalyan as an actor and as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. However, he warned against attempts to interfere in Telangana’s internal political affairs.

He stated that Telangana had fought for more than six decades to achieve statehood and would protect its political autonomy.

He further claimed that several welfare and development schemes introduced in Telangana later became models for other states and even the Union government.

KTR challenged both the Congress and BJP to prove that Telangana did not achieve significant progress during BRS rule. He said he would quit politics permanently if they successfully disproved the development indicators presented by his party.

He alleged that the party failed to implement several guarantees despite assurances made before the Assembly elections. In addition, he accused the government of increasing debt while struggling to generate expected revenue growth.

Speaking on media welfare, KTR suggested that the government allocate housing plots to journalists in locations such as Pet Basheerabad, Manchirevula, and Budwel.

He questioned the need to link such allocations exclusively to the proposed Future City project.

The political exchange comes amid growing tensions between Telangana’s ruling Congress, opposition BRS, and Jana Sena over recent political developments and statements related to Telangana identity and governance. (Maxim News)