BRS slams Congress over attacks on Harish Rao, demands answers on governance
Hyderabad: Senior BRS leaders on Thursday strongly criticised the Congress party for its attacks on former minister T. Harish Rao, calling them a diversion from the government’s own failures.
At a press meet held at the BRS office in Hanamkonda, former ministers Tatikonda Rajaiah and Vinay Bhaskar, along with party general secretary and former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar, said the Congress had resorted to targeting Harish Rao simply because he met distressed farmers in Warangal.
They accused local Congress leaders of making baseless claims for political relevance. “People in Warangal are laughing at these leaders,” Rajaiah said. “They can’t even go near the local bus stand, yet they talk big after pushing small traders to the edge.”
BRS says Congress failed farmers, ignored custodial deaths
The BRS team accused the ruling party of failing to honour its poll promises and instead playing politics while Telangana farmers continued to suffer. “More than 700 farmers have died by suicide, but the state has remained silent,” Rajaiah said.
Vinay Bhaskar defended Harish Rao’s track record, noting that Telangana moved from 10th to 3rd in cotton production under his leadership. He attributed this rise to KCR’s farmer welfare schemes. “KCR even rejected the CCI’s 7-quintal procurement limit and staged a protest in Delhi,” he added.
They also questioned Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s silence on custodial deaths, pointing to the case of Rajesh, a Dalit youth who allegedly died after police torture in Kodad. “Revanth must take moral responsibility and resign,” they demanded.
In another case, they highlighted how Dalit youth Erra Rajasekhar was attacked over his brother’s inter-caste marriage. Despite public complaints, they claimed the police failed to act.
BRS challenges Congress to show results, not rhetoric
The leaders said the Congress government had betrayed marginalised communities with hollow declarations and unkept promises. “They haven’t introduced a single welfare scheme in two years. They’re just running KCR’s programmes,” Praveen Kumar said.
They accused the government of borrowing ₹4 lakh crore without delivering visible development. “Where are those industries you promised? What have you done with the funds?” they asked. “Even your own MLAs are saying there’s no money and no healthcare.”
They challenged the Congress to publish a white paper detailing two years of governance and development.
As elections near, they warned of a public backlash. “You speak of progress, but the 24-storey hospital in Warangal built under Harish Rao remains neglected. If 80% of the work is done, why won’t you even review it?” they asked.