Congress Intensifies Pressure on BRS Leadership Over Drug Allegations
In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud has issued a direct challenge to BRS working president KT Rama Rao, demanding he submit to a drug test as the state assembly prepares for its crucial budget session beginning Monday. The Congress leader further suggested that all elected representatives could undergo similar testing during the legislative proceedings.
Farmhouse Raid Sparks Political Firestorm
The demand comes in direct response to the recent arrest of BRS former MLA P Rohith Reddy and several others, who tested positive for drug consumption during a raid at a farmhouse in Moinabad. The operation was conducted by the EAGLE team, which Goud emphasized was simply performing its duty as part of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's comprehensive initiative to establish Telangana as a drug-free state.
"There is absolutely no political motivation behind this enforcement action," asserted Goud, while simultaneously arguing that "the apprehension of Rohith Reddy and his associates completely validates the Congress party's longstanding position that drug culture allegedly flourished during the nearly decade-long tenure of the previous BRS government."
Congress Demands Accountability from BRS Leadership
Goud presented a series of pointed demands directed at the BRS leadership:
- KT Rama Rao must provide a detailed explanation to the people of Telangana regarding his party's former MLA's involvement in what has been described as a 'drug party'
- The BRS must clearly articulate its official position on the escalating drug controversy
- KTR should finally undergo the drug test that Congress leaders, including then-TPCC president Revanth Reddy, had demanded previously amid allegations of his involvement in drug-related matters
"KTR avoided taking a drug test when we first raised this issue," recalled Goud. "Now, at the very least, he should take this opportunity to clear his name definitively by submitting to proper testing procedures."
Protests Erupt Across Telangana
Meanwhile, Congress activists and leaders, spearheaded by MLC Balmoori Venkat, staged vigorous protests at Gandhi Bhavan, where they burned effigies of KT Rama Rao while chanting the powerful slogan "No Drugs, Save Telangana." The demonstrations reflected growing public concern over the drug allegations now engulfing state politics.
Tandur Congress MLA B Manohar Reddy characterized the Moinabad farmhouse incident as far more significant than a minor gathering, suggesting it pointed toward "a substantial and organized drugs racket that requires thorough investigation and exposure." He warned that such activities were dangerously compromising the future of Telangana's youth and demanded the complete eradication of drug mafia operations from the state.
"The people of Tandur constituency feel deeply embarrassed by this unfortunate incident involving their former representative," Manohar Reddy stated with evident concern.
Cross-Party Concerns Over Youth Impact
CPI leader Narayana joined the chorus of criticism, demanding the suspension of TDP MP Putta Mahesh and calling for stringent legal action against former MLA Rohith Reddy for allegedly consuming illegal substances. Narayana expressed particular alarm about the dual threat of spreading drug culture and proliferating betting applications, which he argued were systematically misleading and corrupting the state's younger generation.
"Our youth must consciously distance themselves from these destructive social evils," urged Narayana, while proposing an alternative vision: "We should channel sports and physical activities toward genuine youth development rather than allowing them to be exploited primarily for corporate profitability."
The intensifying controversy has positioned the upcoming budget session as a potential flashpoint, with drug testing for legislators emerging as a central political demand that could redefine accountability standards in Telangana's governance framework.
