Hyderabad: In a strong statement on Monday, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy emphasized that anyone engaged in criminal activities or irregularities will inevitably face legal inquiries under the framework of the Constitution drafted by BR Ambedkar. The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the portrayal of BRS leaders, particularly K Chandrasekhar Rao, as the "father of Telangana" and their claims that serving notices in a phone-tapping case insults the people of the state.
Questioning Titles and Contributions
Revanth Reddy sharply criticized the self-bestowed titles, asking, "They are giving themselves titles such as Telangana's father and statehood movement leader. The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, sacrificed everything, whereas those claiming to be Telangana's father have amassed thousands of crores in wealth and indulged in irregularities and wrongdoing. What is the contribution or sacrifice of this self-proclaimed fatherly figure?" He highlighted the contrast between genuine sacrifice and alleged accumulation of wealth through questionable means.
Recalling Past Treatment of Statehood Activists
The Chief Minister spoke after presenting the Ravi Narayana National Award-2025 to Justice B Sudarshan Reddy at the Ravi Narayana Reddy auditorium in Banjara Hills. He pointed to the experiences of other statehood movement leaders, noting that Prof M Kodandaram, who led the T-JAC and united various groups for Telangana's cause, faced humiliation and arrest during the BRS government's tenure. "The police dragged him and arrested him by forcibly entering his residence. What crime did a statehood movement leader like Kodandaram commit to be treated in such a manner?" Revanth questioned, emphasizing that leaders like Ravi Narayana Reddy donated land and made sacrifices for the poor.
Legal Procedures and Democratic Norms
Revanth Reddy defended the notice served to KCR, stating it was done in accordance with democratic norms, with SIT members visiting his home due to his age. He asserted, "BRS leaders should know that there is no immunity for criminal conspiracy. No law or constitution prevents people from being questioned for irregularities or criminal conspiracy." He referenced other leaders like Shibu Soren, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and J Jayalalithaa, who also faced inquiries, underscoring that legal accountability applies to all.
Criticism of BRS Leaders' Response
The CM argued that after being rejected by voters in assembly and Parliamentary elections, BRS leaders have blamed the people of Telangana. "What kind of democracy is this? What kind of character is this for an activist? What kind of character is this for a self-proclaimed father of the state to claim that the people have made a mistake?" he asked, suggesting that retiring from public life might preserve their remaining respect.
Commitment to Honoring Legacy
Revanth Reddy assured organizers that a separate meeting would be called to decide on installing a statue of Ravi Narayana Reddy, promising, "The Congress government will give him the honour and respect he deserves." This commitment reflects his administration's focus on recognizing genuine contributions to the state's formation.
Allegations Against BJP and Electoral Rights
In a related critique, CM Revanth alleged that the BJP, after failing to secure 400 seats to amend the Constitution, is using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the one-nation-one-election proposal to undermine voting rights. "The BJP has introduced SIR to trample on the voting rights of the poor guaranteed by the Constitution. It reflects Golwalkar's ideology," he claimed, contrasting this with Rahul Gandhi's request for PM Modi's educational certificate, which was not provided under RTI. "Yet they expect voters to provide proof of even their great-grandfathers' citizenship. It is a conspiracy to deny the poor their right to vote," Revanth alleged, linking these issues to broader democratic concerns.
