- Harish Rao attacks Revanth Reddy on Telangana Thalli changes
- BRS leader cites Telangana identity, movement sacrifices
Hyderabad: BRS senior leader and former Minister T Harish Rao launched a strong attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy during the BRS Vijay Diwas event. He said the Chief Minister was betraying Telangana by creating what he called a fake Telangana Thalli statue without Bathukamma. He also criticised him for the idea of naming a Hyderabad road after Donald Trump. Harish Rao said such actions insulted the people of Telangana and weakened the identity built during the movement.
He said BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao would return as Chief Minister. He added that “KCR meant struggle and sacrifice,” while “Revanth Reddy means back-stabbing and betrayal.” He made the remarks after paying floral tributes to the statues of Telangana Thalli, Dr BR Ambedkar and Prof K Jayashankar. He said the December 9 announcement and the June 2 formation day would never have happened without Chandrashekhar Rao’s fast-unto-death on November 29, 2009. According to him, Revanth Reddy was following the path of united Andhra supporters.
Harish Rao said the change in the design of the Telangana Thalli statue had hurt people who had installed her idols in villages during the movement. “The statue of Telangana Thalli emerged from the emotions and fighting spirit of the movement. People voluntarily installed her idols in every village and colony and worshipped her. Revanth Reddy has no moral right to alter it,” he said. He called the proposed statue fake and accused the Chief Minister of removing Bathukamma from the mother’s hands. He added that Revanth Reddy never raised the slogan Jai Telangana and even carried a rifle against agitators.
He revived the old nickname “Rifle Reddy” and reminded people of past incidents when Revanth Reddy was in TDP. He also questioned plans to name a road in Hyderabad after Donald Trump. “Will you name a road in Hyderabad after the same Trump who put our Telugu children in chains and jailed them in America, who raised taxes and made visas tougher for Indians? Naming a road after him is nothing but an insult to every Indian,” he said.
Harish Rao recalled how doctors had warned that Chandrashekhar Rao risked kidney failure during his 2009 fast. He said the leader refused to stop the fast and told him, “Until Telangana comes, even if my life goes, we will fight.” He said the fast had reduced Chandrashekhar Rao’s lifespan by at least ten years. He also criticised the Congress government, saying Telangana had slipped backwards because of fertiliser shortages, power cuts, and issues with Rythu Bandhu and crop insurance.
He warned that attempts to remove the Kakatiya Thoranam and Charminar from state symbols would not be accepted. He added that belittling icons such as Kaloji, Dasarathi and Gaddar would also face strong resistance. He ended his speech by saying that K Chandrashekhar Rao would return to lead Telangana again.
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