Hyderabad: “My government, unlike the previous BRS regime, did not sell an inch of land to mobilise resources in the last 11 months but managed to meet the expenditure of thousands of crores of rupees for welfare and development,” asserted Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, the Chief Minister rated the performance of his nearly one-year-old government as “more than satisfactory” as none of his predecessors, either in combined Andhra Pradesh or subsequently in Telangana, could waive of Rs.18,000 cr farm loans in just 25 days, fill 55,000 government jobs in 11 months, provide free bus travel worth Rs.3,500 cr and free power up to 200 units and gas cylinder at Rs.500 to 42 lakh women. “Besides, I took revolutionary initiatives like skill and sports universities which even Prime Minister Narendra Modi or my predecessor K. Chandrashekar Rao could not take, Revanth Reddy said adding that the flow of capital investment did not stop, a reflection of a fine balance between development and welfare. Besides, we are adding about 116 km of new metro line, will build fourth city, elevated corridors and Regional Ring Road and rejuvenate Musi, he pointed out.
The Chief Minister is also deeply contended over maintaining peace and communal harmony in the State dispelling the false propaganda of Opposition that curfews would be a normal if Congress comes to power. On spate of protests including those by uniformed forces, Revanth Reddy said it only shows how democratic he is unlike the tyrannical rule of KCR whom he compared with Nizam, his autocratic rule and finally his fall.
“Protests are a powerful expression in democracy. We can neither ignore nor suppress and never consider as a dent to government’s image,” he said. The Chief Minister strongly defended maintaining cordial relations with the Centre following the true spirit of federalism and Constitution. As a Chief Minister, I have to deliver and get the maximum from the Centre. None of the three Governors who served the State so far since we came to power utter a word against my government because we meet the Constitutional obligations, he said.
He dismissed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi creating ruckus over every initiative of the State as a result of sibling rivalry between its leaders K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao. He accused both the BRS leaders of instigating Musi oustees to take drastic steps as they did during separate statehood agitation claiming innocent lives.
When there was still uncertainty about the formation of Telangana state, you confidently announced that you would one day become its Chief Minister — and you achieved it. Was this a calculated statement, or did it feel like a prophecy coming true?
Nature has a way of addressing genuine issues and finding solutions, and Telangana is a prime example of that. In politics, it’s crucial to understand who will fade out, who will become obsolete, and who will emerge as a leader. Staying connected to the ground reality is essential. A leader who belongs to the people will always have an edge over an outsider. That’s why my political calculations are often accurate, as are my election predictions, whether at the state or central level.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, you took the Congress’s narrative against the BJP to a more aggressive stance. Now, your government has initiated a Backward Classes enumeration. Do you believe you’ll set a national agenda on this as well?
A nationwide debate on BC enumeration will gain momentum with the upcoming population census next year. By then, the results of our enumeration will highlight its importance to both the public and political parties. The BC community has been evolving, and while their legitimate rights may be delayed, they cannot be denied forever.
The Congress missed an opportunity in the 1990s when the political dynamics shifted dramatically, especially in the North, with leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav emerging. Was the party’s focus elsewhere at that time?
The party’s focus may indeed have been on different priorities. If we look back at the Nehru era after Independence, the focus was on education and irrigation, which later shifted to industrial and technological development. Perhaps we missed the chance to adapt to the changing political landscape during that period.
The Opposition seeks to know if the Congress will allot seats in pools in proportion to caste census.
Be it in politics, education or employment, the BC representation has been increasing. In Telangana, nearly 30-35 per cent Assembly seats were allocated to BCs and another 15 per cent would take them to the half-way mark. In the recently held Group-I exams, contrary to the propaganda, 51.7 per cent of the candidates qualified are BCs and only 9.8 per cent belong to OCs. I keep telling people — who could not make it in government employment for lacking reservation — to explore global opportunities in the private sector improving skills.
Is empowering Telangana youth to compete globally the objective of the proposed skill university? In South Korea, those who graduate from special skill schools have job guarantees but our ITIs and polytechnics fail the pass outs on the employment front.
There is a mismatch between what you aspire, what you learn and finally what you become. The syllabus of ITIs is 50 years old. Students are taught how to repair Ambassador cars or black and white tube TVs. But they are no longer available to repair now. The syllabus was not upgraded to repair new age cars or QLED TVs. Pharma or poultry industry is looking for people with skills and are ready to absorb those acquired. Immediately after coming to power, we entered into agreement with the Tata Group to upgrade 75 ITIs into Advanced Technology Centres. Out of the total outlay of Rs 2,400 crore, the Tata Group will spend Rs 2,100 crore to provide infrastructure and impart training with their own faculty.
But, there is a criticism that you are granting clemency to some erring industrial houses, who otherwise have been facing allegations of defrauding the government, by accepting donations from them for skill university..
The rulers in the previous BRS regime made personal gains out of the same industrial houses and they criticise if I accept donation as part of nation building. We cancelled tenders awarded to the company which they are referring to and ordered a probe against them in Sunkishala retaining wall collapse.
There have been similar allegations against accepting donations from the Adani Group.
The Adani Group donated to the state. If an industrialist, who is treated on par with others, benefits the state with his investment why should I say no. Rahul Gandhi wrote an article recently in which he clarified that he is not per se against industrial houses but opposed crony capitalism and the Centre facilitating Adani to monopolise the industry. It’s BRS stupidity to accuse us of meeting the Adani Group clandestinely in a hotel in the city when we openly met them at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
You made serious allegations of corruption and ordered a probe into several scams after coming to power. But there has been no concrete action so far leading to doubts on whether the government is dodging action or even compromised.
I am strictly following the administrative procedure and I can guarantee that there will be no political vendetta. The BRS got Justice L Narasimha Reddy changed from the judicial commission into PPA irregularities and we appointed Justice Madan B Lokur. When a person of integrity probed a matter and submitted the report on it, there will be follow up action. However, you (BRS) hide from the commission and are confined to a farmhouse.
But the BRS says you will be in trouble when former chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao becomes active in the next few months.
The BRS leaders used to say that K. Chandrashekhar Rao cannot be undefeated but I defeated him. Now I also wish that he comes out of the farmhouse and becomes active in the political game. I relish my victory playing against him. Take Rahul Gandhi’s case. Despite losing polls in the last 10 years, he is touring the nation, fighting on public issues. Chandrashekhar Rao enjoyed power, and amassed wealth in the last 10 years, but now he is confined to his farmhouse when he has gone out of power. His liability cost the party heavily in the Lok Sabha polls.
The BRS might have scored a zero in the Lok Sabha polls, but the BJP is growing in the state. Is it not a concern for you?
It is foolish to wish away competition in a multiparty system. Only Chandrashekhar Rao wishes that his party alone remains in power. The BJP filled the vacuum created by the BRS. But, you should not forget that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is losing and the loss will be complete in 2029.
You always talk about the expiry date for Chandrashekhar Rao. So what is the expiry date for the Congress government in Telangana?
A minimum of 10 years if you go by the principles of natural justice. Since 1994, people have always given a second term to the incumbent whether it was in combined Andhra Pradesh or in Telangana. After that, our performance will decide.
How comfortable are you with your party and cabinet colleagues? It seems no one comes to your rescue when you are under attack from the Opposition.
The Congress is a joint family and definitely will have all the issues that a joint family faces. Secondly, the importance attached to the Chief Minister’s reaction to criticism is more than that of a minister. But you must appreciate that there has not been a single voice of dissent either in the party or the government in the last 11 months — a privilege which even a strong leader like Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy could not enjoy (laughs)
But there was rumour that you came under pressure from the party to go slow on HYDRAA.
No. The first phase of HYDRAA was to remove structures that have already been notified in FTL. Now the process of notifying FTL for other water bodies including Gandipet is underway. We will not spare anyone. People and media should orient themselves to climate change and support any move of the government aimed at mitigating t h e loss.