Speaking to reporters he said that it was an internal matter of the party and that the party would resolve it.
Published Oct 19, 2023 | 7:01 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 19, 2023 | 7:01 PM
MLA Raja Singh is known for his controversial remarks at public events against non-Hindus. (Sourced)
Even with the state Assembly election looming in Telangana, the BJP is yet to clear its stand on whether it would revoke the suspension of its controversial MLA T Raja Singh.
On Thursday, 19 October, when Union Tourism Minister and Telangana BJP state president G Kishan Reddy was asked about Singh, he appeared to be non-committal on lifting the suspension of the Goshamahal MLA.
When scribes asked him whether Raja Singh’s name would be included in the list during a media interaction in New Delhi, the Union Minister replied, “Once the list is ready, we will inform you (media).”
When his attention was drawn to the statements that the party was yet to revoke the suspension of Raja Singh, Kishan Reddy said, “It is our party’s internal issue. We look into it and we will definitely resolve it.”
To another question of whether Raja Singh would contest the elections, Kishan Reddy replied that if the suspension was revoked the former would be in the fray.
The BJP central leadership placed him under suspension on 23 August, 2022, for making controversial remarks and hurting the sentiments of a particular community and since then he has been staying away from party activities.
When asked the reasons behind the delay in announcing the list of candidates contesting the Assembly elections in Telangana, Kishan Reddy said the central leadership was according priority to the states where the elections were scheduled before Telangana.
After finalising the candidates in other states, the party would focus on Telangana as well, he said.
During the interaction, Kishan Reddy asked whether Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao was protecting Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy in the Vote for Note scam due to the BRS-Congress alliance.
It was the Congress that entered into an alliance with the BRS and shared power both at the state and Centre in 2004, he said.
“Do you (Chandrashekhar Rao) think people of Telangana are not aware of which parties are in alliance and the meetings that are taking place? Does Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not know that the BRS was a part of the Congress-led government under former prime minister Manmohan Singh? Has Rahul Gandhi forgotten that Chandrashekhar Rao was made a Union minister in the Congress government?” he questioned.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s outburst during a road show in Mulugu on Wednesday, Kishan Reddy said Rahul Gandhi was a person, who did not have minimum political knowledge.
“Lies and falsehoods is the Congress way of life. Cheating is the standard playbook of the Congress! Eight MLAs of the Congress joined the BRS after winning the 2014 elections and 12 MLAs of the Congress joined the BRS party after winning the 2018 elections. Isn’t it amply clear who is the B Team of BRS?” he asked.
“Rahul Gandhi should therefore clarify whether a vote for Congress is indeed not a vote for the BRS. Isn’t it a fact that Telangana MLCs belonging to the Congress have merged with the BRS Legislative Party of the Congress? Isn’t it true that in 2004, the Congress and the BRS were in an alliance and in 2013 the Congress negotiated with the BRS to merge with Congress?” he questioned.
“Before talking about BJP, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi should answer all these questions. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi should first be aware that Telangana voters know very well that voting for Congress is like voting for BRS,” he added.
Kishan Reddy asked whether Rahul Gandhi was ready for a public debate on the matter either at Hyderabad Press Club or in front of the Delhi media.
