Union budget proposal: War of words between CM and KTR

Hyderabad: A heated exchange of words took place between Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and BRS Working President KT Rama Rao during the discussion on the motion on the Union Budget. The House witnessed uproar during the discussion as both the ruling and the Opposition created a ruckus blaming each other for the current situation. During the discussion on discrimination in Union Budget allocation to Telangana, the Chief Minister sought to know about the absence of the Leader of Opposition during the crucial discussion involving the interests of Telangana. “When we are discussing an important issue involving four crore people of Telangana, he, with his vast experience of leading a movement for 15 years and running a government for 10 years, who boasts of his 25 years of contribution to Telangana, should be present here. It seems he is scared of Modi and has gone into hiding somewhere,” Revanth Reddy felt while responding to KTR’s jibe that if the CM is ‘uncomfortable’, why has he not spoken on the motion yet. KTR said the way the proceedings were going on, those present from the BRS side were enough to handle the situation. Welcoming the decision to pass the resolution, he advised the government to run the House as per the existing norms, complaining that the opposition was not informed in advance about the topics to be discussed in the House. Reacting to this, Revanth felt that unnecessary controversy was being created by KTR. He alleged that since there was a secret understanding between the BJP and the BRS, it resulted in the injustice currently being done by the state. “We have not achieved this level in the name of our father or grandfather, nor have we come here through the management quota. It is because of hard work and commitment that we have reached this position,” Revanth said. This led to an uproar in the House. Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar tried to restore order amid the uproar. KTR sharply criticised the CM, saying such remarks were inappropriate for a person holding this position and he should exercise restraint. “If he makes such claims, I can argue that the CM has achieved his position through payment quota. What if I start talking about Rahul Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi?” KTR’s comments triggered an uproar from the treasury benches. Regarding the alleged transfer of city discoms to private entities, KTR demanded that the CM clarify whether the Congress government was handing over the control to Adani. Revanth Reddy called it a mere rumour and said the previous BRS government did not even have a power policy. When KTR accused the CM of making sweeping remarks and recalled how Revanth Reddy had called Sonia Gandhi a ‘balidevata’ during his tenure in the TDP, his microphone was abruptly disconnected.