KTR’s ‘Dignity of Office’ Remark Triggers Sharp Reaction From BJP Leader
BRS leader targets Congress leaders over Rahul Gandhi rally, while Sanjay defends touching Amit Shah’s feet as a cultural tradition.
Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has sparked a fresh political confrontation by accusing the Congress and BJP leaders of compromising the “dignity of office.” In a post on X, he said Telangana was founded on self-respect and alleged that the two national parties had failed to understand it.
Rama Rao accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of acting like a “bodyguard” to the Gandhi family, while the PCC president and a state minister were “running behind Rahul Gandhi’s bike like errand boys” during Saturday’s gig workers rally. He also criticised Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar for touching the feet of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and carried his footwear.
Calling the conduct “shameful and unbecoming,” Rama Rao said such behaviour was inconsistent with Telangana’s political culture of self-respect.
Sanjay responded strongly, rejecting the criticism as an attack on Indian traditions of respect for teachers and mentors. Touching the feet of one’s guru is a matter of culture, discipline and moral values, he said
Sanjay asked whether alleged corruption in Kaleshwaram, phone tapping, irregularities in power procurement and delayed clearance of bills to sarpanches and contractors, harassing intermediate students and employees represented “dignity of office.” He said the people of Telangana understood the meaning of dignity, which was why the BRS had been restricted to its farmhouse after the last election.
Sanjay also launched a personal attack on Rama Rao, calling him a “management quota politician” and alleging that he inherited political influence through his family. He defended his earlier conduct during Amit Shah’s padayatra stating that he feels proud touching his gurus’ feet and moving their footwear, and invoked the Bhagavad Gita’s message of duty without ego.