Revanth Credits Congress for Telangana’s Growth

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday said that it was the Congress party and Sonia Gandhi who fulfilled the promise of forming Telangana, even at the cost of political loss. Speaking at the Meet the Press programme, Revanth said, “Sonia Gandhi kept her word and created Telangana despite political setbacks. The Congress party’s decade-long rule from 2004 to 2014 was marked by real development and welfare, unlike the BRS government’s misrule.”

Revanth recalled that during UPA-I and UPA-II, the Congress government worked extensively for farmers’ welfare. “In 2004, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s first signature as Chief Minister was to grant free electricity to farmers and clear ₹1,300 crore in pending power dues. Dr. Manmohan Singh implemented a ₹73,000-crore loan waiver, and Congress ensured minimum support prices and irrigation projects under the Jalayagnam scheme,” he said.

He listed several major irrigation projects taken up by the Congress, including Kalwakurthy, Bheema, Nettampadu, RDS, Indira Sagar, SLBC, and Pranahita-Chevella, as well as SRSP, Mid Manair, and Sripada Yellampalli.

Remembering former Congress leader P. Janardhan Reddy, Revanth said, “PJR stood by the poor. During his time, women protested with water pots demanding drinking water, forcing the government to bring Krishna river water to Hyderabad.”

Revanth asserted that Hyderabad’s rise as an IT and knowledge hub was a result of Congress-led policies. “Continuous power supply attracted global companies to the city. Today, 40% of India’s bulk drugs are produced here. Global firms like Eli Lilly are investing $1 billion, and 70% of Fortune 500 companies have set up GCCs in Hyderabad. This growth corridor is Congress’ contribution,” he said.

He stated that 65% of Telangana’s total revenue now comes from Hyderabad, and Ranga Reddy district leads the country in per capita income achievements rooted in decisions made by former Congress leaders. He credited Indira Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao for distributing 25 lakh acres of assigned lands and 10 lakh acres of podu lands, and implementing the slogan “Land to the tiller.”

Revanth also lauded Jaipal Reddy’s efforts in bringing the Hyderabad Metro project. “This is history, and no one not even KCR can erase it,” he remarked.

Drawing comparisons between Congress and BRS governance, Revanth said, “We handed over the state with a ₹60,000-crore surplus, but KCR’s government left it with a debt of ₹8.11 lakh crore. Telangana was pushed into a financial crisis where even employee salaries couldn’t be paid. What did KCR build apart from the Secretariat, Command Control Centre, and Pragathi Bhavan? Did these create any jobs?”

He accused the previous government of wasting ₹1.87 lakh crore on irrigation projects without providing water to even a single acre, and of failing to construct hospitals like Osmania or complete TIMS. “Kaleshwaram failed to deliver water, yet our government, without Kaleshwaram, produced 2.85 crore metric tonnes of paddy, making Telangana number one in the country,” he said.

Revanth further alleged that under BRS rule, 5,000 schools were shut down, new universities were not established, and vice-chancellors were not appointed. “They denied education to the poor, farming to farmers, and power to women,” he said.

Highlighting his government’s achievements, Revanth said, “We have spent ₹7,100 crore on free bus travel for women and turned RTC into a profit-making entity. We increased Rajiv Arogyasri coverage to ₹10 lakh, are constructing a new Osmania Hospital with ₹3,000 crore, and building a new High Court complex on 100 acres. We have not stopped any welfare scheme introduced by KCR.”

He said the Congress government waived ₹21,000 crore in farm loans and released ₹9,000 crore under Rythu Bharosa within nine days. “We are implementing 200 units of free power, ₹500 gas cylinders, and ration card benefits. We are also building Young India Skill University, Police Schools, and Young India Residential Schools,” he said.

The Chief Minister said his administration has conducted caste-based enumeration and implemented SC sub-categorization, setting an example for the rest of the country.

Targeting KCR and K.T. Rama Rao, he said, “KCR acts like a blind Dhritarashtra when it comes to his son. Even after his own sister left him, KCR continues to protect KTR. They brought in a culture of arrogance and corruption.”

He added, “Think for yourselves who stands for agriculture and who stands for the drugs culture? Who mingles with the people and who spends time in pubs? Who works for cinema workers and who just hangs out with stars?”

Revanth Reddy also said, “Congress will rule Telangana for the next ten years. Our priority is development, welfare, and rebuilding Hyderabad. We must win Jubilee Hills, and we must continue this path of progress.”