KTR accepts Revanth Reddy’s ‘challenge’ for debate on river water allocation, asks Telangana CM to decide venue in 72 hours

HYDERABAD

Working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), K.T. Rama Rao, has accepted the ‘challenge’ thrown at the party (BRS) leadership by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at ‘Samvidhan celebration’ public meeting on Friday (July 4, 2025) for a debate on the issues pertaining to river water allocation and injustices to Telangana.

“Mr. Revanth Reddy can decide the venue of his choice for the debate at Kondareddypalle, Chintamadaka, Kodangal, Gajwel, Assembly or Ambedkar statue in the next 72 hours. Else, he could come to Press Club at 11 am on July 8 as I (KTR) would be waiting there for the debate”, Mr. Rama Rao said addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Saturday (July 5, 2025).

“I prefer Mr. Revanth Reddy to come for the debate as it would make things clear once for all or he could send his senior colleague. They could make ample preparation in the next 72 hours as issues related to water sharing are difficult to understand for the Congress leaders, while the BRS leaders lived with it all along the Statehood moved. I would personally come for the debate as BRS chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would be too big for Mr. Reddy’s level”, the BRS working president said.

Every Telanganite was aware as to what was the status of the farm sector in Telangana till 2014 and how it had transformed during 2014-23. He stated that several novel initiatives including increase in the irrigation facilities, free power for farming round-the-clock and timely supply of all other inputs by the BRS administration had made farming a celebration in Telangana and led the State to become top paddy producer in the country, displacing Punjab.

Introduction of investment/input support, life insurance cover to every landholder and 24-hour free power supply to farming were the hallmark of BRS rule, as such interventions were made for the first time anywhere in the world. The Chief Minister Mr. Revanth Reddy was aware of everything but not ready to accept the reality and facts, Mr. Rama Rao said.

Stating that denial of water for irrigation and drinking needs and power supply to farm sector along with discrimination in allocation of funds and jobs had led to the birth of the ultimate phase of the Statehood movement along, the BRS leader pointed out several failures and betrayal of promises made to the farming and other dependent sectors made in the name of Rythu Declaration and others, in detail.

He said that Mr. Revanth Reddy too was fighting for water and funds but the only difference was that he was allowing Andhra Pradesh to illegally divert Godavari water to the non-basin areas in violation of the rights of Telangana within the basin in the name of Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) and sending funds to Delhi (Congress leadership).