On Monday, Revanth Reddy painted a grim picture of Telangana’s finances, declaring the state bankrupt and claiming that no institution is willing to lend it money.
Published May 06, 2025 | 4:01 PM ⚊ Updated May 06, 2025 | 6:10 PM
KTR warned the Chief Minister against using derogatory language towards BRS supremo and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Synopsis: BRS Working President KT Rama Rao, on Tuesday, lashed out at Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for declaring Telangana bankrupt, accusing him of failing to fulfil key pre-election promises. KTR challenged Reddy’s financial claims, citing RBI and CAG data to counter allegations of reckless borrowing by the previous BRS government. He demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation, alleging incompetence.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao took strong exception to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s claim that the state is bankrupt due to loans taken by the previous BRS government, and alleged that the Chief Minister is unfairly targeting employee union leaders who are demanding the fulfilment of promises made before the 2023 Assembly elections.
“You have ₹250 crore to host the Miss World 2025 pageant in Hyderabad, but no funds to settle retirement benefits and pay pensions?” he asked at a press conference in Hyderabad on Tuesday, 6 May.
“If you’re incapable of governing or tired of carrying money bags to your party’s high command, resign and step aside. It is evident you can’t manage the state. Unable to boost state revenues, you’re shifting the blame to the BRS government for your failure to implement welfare schemes promised in the Congress manifesto.”
On Monday, Revanth Reddy painted a grim picture of Telangana’s finances, declaring the state bankrupt and claiming that no institution is willing to lend it money. His comments came amid warnings from Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees’ unions, which have threatened to go on strike from 7 May if their demand – to be absorbed into government rolls, among others – is not addressed.
Referring to the Congress’s unfulfilled poll promises, KTR said that Revanth Reddy had assured employees of several benefits, none of which have been delivered.
“You promised to clear three pending dearness allowance instalments, scrap the Contributory Pension Scheme, establish a new Pay Revision Commission, and absorb RTC employees into government rolls. The employees, who were instrumental in the Telangana movement under KCR’s leadership, deserve respect, not humiliation,” he said, recalling how employees opposed Hyderabad’s ‘free zone’ status and played a key role in achieving statehood.
KTR stressed that under BRS rule, employees enjoyed significant benefits, including a 73 percent salary hike and a special increment to bring their pay on par with that of Central government employees. “[K Chandrasekhar Rao] valued their contribution to the Telangana movement, but now Revanth Reddy is insulting them,” he said.
Ridiculing Revanth Reddy’s complaints about difficulties in raising loans, KTR said, “You claim that people treat you like a thief when you seek loans. That’s no surprise, given your involvement in the cash-for-vote scandal. For the past one and a half years, you’ve used filthy language against us, even wishing harm upon our leader. By humiliating Telangana, you’re disrespecting the sacrifices of countless people. We won’t stay silent if you continue to curse the state, calling it an AIDS patient, a cancer patient, or bankrupt.”
Addressing Revanth Reddy’s comment about whether the employees want to ‘cut him up and eat him’, KTR retorted, “Why would we do that? You’re the one dismantling the state over the past 18 months. You’re the most incompetent Chief Minister in independent India, leading a Congress government that’s deceived people with 420 unfulfilled promises.”
He further warned the Chief Minister against using derogatory language towards BRS supremo and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
“This is my final warning. Despite your repeated abusive remarks against KCR, we have shown restraint. But if you continue to use such language, a day will come when you’ll face consequences for your words,” he added.
On the state’s finances, KTR sought to debunk Revanth Reddy’s claims, stating, “BRS raised only ₹4.17 lakh crore in loans over 10 years, not ₹8.29 lakh crore as you claim. Every government inherits debts and assets. In 2014, Congress handed us a state with ₹51,000 crore in revenue; we increased it to ₹2.16 lakh crore by the time we left. The revenue surplus grew from ₹369 crore in 2014–15 to ₹4,882 crore, per CAG [Comptroller Auditor General] records. Yet, you fabricate figures, claiming ₹6 lakh crore in debt initially and now ₹8.29 lakh crore. Are you running a government or a circus?”
KTR challenged the Chief Minister’s revenue record: “In 10 years, BRS raised ₹4.17 lakh crore, averaging ₹40,000 crore annually. We inherited a monthly revenue of ₹4,000 crore in 2014 and left you with ₹18,000 crore in December 2023. Now, in May 2025, you admit it is still ₹18,000 crore. What have you achieved in 17 months? Has your government added even a rupee to the revenue?”
Refuting Revanth Reddy’s debt repayment claims, KTR cited data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI): “You claim to repay ₹7,000 crore or ₹6,500 crore monthly towards principal and interest, and ₹64,768 crore over 14 months. But RBI reports show Telangana pays only ₹2,000 crore per month, including principal and interest.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
