Adilabad:

Congress leader Kota Neelima hit out at the BRS party on Sunday, accusing them of being anti-poor and anti-farmer after the latter alleged that the Congress-led Telangana government is responsible for a farmer’s suicide in Adilabad.

“If any political party has thought about farmers, then it is Congress, and our history proves that…BRS is anti-poor, anti-farmer, pro-rich, that is how they function. So nowadays when the Telangana government brings out pro-poor policies, how will they understand?,” Neelima told ANI.

Her reaction comes amidst BRS working president KT Rama Rao highlighted an alleged case of farmer suicide, tagging Rahul Gandhi in a post and showing it as ‘proof’ of farmers not getting the promised loan waivers.

Replying to the allegations, Neelima told ANI that BRS promised schemes but did not implement any.

“A theme came out in the last ten years, that the schemes were only announced just before elections. They told farmers that if they don’t support them (BRS) then they won’t get money and did elections after. Our Congress government has come to power, and in just one year we have implemented all the schemes,” Neelima added.

She further said that it is important to understand the behind the suicides and support the grieving families.

“Whenever a farmer suicide happens, we need to understand the reason behind it, support the grieving family and the government’s promise at that time was that the family, the widows and children should be supported, we raised the issue then but it didn’t happen,” the Congress leader said.

Earlier, a post on X by KTR mentioned that a 50-year-old farmer, Jadav Devrao allegedly was going through financial hardship and died by ingesting poison in a bank in Adilabad.

“Jadav Devrao, a 50-year-old tribal farmer, broken by your (Congress) failed promises and tortured by financial struggles, decided that ending his life is the only option available to him. He consumed poison in the bank and left his ailing wife, a kidney patient and a son…all because of your failed promises,” KTR’s post read.

Posting a video of the alleged incident, the BRS chief said that it is ‘proof’ of the Congress-led government not giving the promised Rs 2 lakh farm loan waiver.

“This video is proof of what we have been saying – not even 40pc farmers received the 2 lakh farm loan wavier you promised. And your Rythu Bharosa is a bigger farce! Your government shamelessly took a u-turn from the promised Rs 15,000 per acre,” his post added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

Rahul Gandhi wants to save the Constitution, but his own party is flouting it by poaching BRS legislators, alleged BRS leader KT Rama Rao ahead of key local body polls in Telangana. The BRS has been been hit by a series of defections. 

KT Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, mocked the Congress, pointing out that the state congress chief has hinted at inducting more BRS MLAs after the Makar Sankranti festival. Rahul Gandhi is expected to join a Samvidhan Bachao rally in Hyderabad along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge in the last week of January.

“Samvidhan Bachao (Save the Constitution) Rally by RG in Hyderabad PCC president says Congress will flout the same Constitution & induct more BRS MLAs. What a Great way to save Constitution @RahulGandhi Ji,” KTR posted on X, taking a swipe at Mr Gandhi.  

The KCR-led BRS had won 39 of the 119 Assembly constituencies in the elections held last year, while Congress came to power winning 64 seats. Overall, 10 MLAs defected from the BRS to the Congress after the state polls.

On Sunday, there was an ugly public spat between Huzurabad MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and Jagtial MLA Dr Sanjay Kumar at a review meeting in Karimnagar. Both were elected on the BRS party ticket in November 2023. Reddy asked Sanjay Kumar which party he represented as the latter was one of the 10 BRS MLAs who had switched to the Congress without resigning as BRS legislator.

“Ask him to resign and then talk. It is alms given by KCR that he became MLA. Not just him, even the other 10 MLAs should resign. We won’t allow them to go around without doing that,” said Padi Kaushik Reddy, BRS MLA.

KTR appreciated Kaushik Reddy’s action of confronting the defectors and said he pities the defectors as the Congress doesn’t have the courage to own them and they themselves cannot say which party they belong to.
 

Hyderabad:

A video of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s brother Tirupati Reddy arriving for a school function in a convoy led by a police car and being welcomed with a marching band and a parade has gone viral, igniting controversy and attracting barbs from opposition parties BRS and BJP. Tirupati Reddy holds no official position in the state.

The video, from the state’s Vikarabad district, shows the convoy pulling up near the school and Mr Reddy being handed a bouquet of flowers as he exits a black SUV. Students are lined up on either side of the road and a band marches towards the chief minister’s brother. Mr Reddy is then welcomed by one of the students leading a mini parade.

Taking to X on Friday, BRS working president KT Rama Rao took a veiled dig at Revanth Reddy and his brothers and said Telangana has got half a dozen chief ministers after the Congress came to power, even though it elected only one.

Continuing in a sarcastic vein, Mr Rao said, “My wishes to Vikarabad chief minister Tirupati Reddy.”

Tamil Nadu BJP Spokesperson NV Subhash said Tirupati Reddy enjoys privileges like a police convoy even though he is not an MP, MLA or even a corporator. The Vikarabad District Collector, Mr Subhash alleged was acting like Mr Reddy’s “personal bodyguard” during the school event.

Congress Spokesperson Sama Rammohan Reddy told news agency PTI that it is for a school’s management to decide who it wants to invite for its events and how it wants to welcome the person.

He also alleged that family members of the then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao violated rules and protocols several times during the party’s nearly decade-long rule in the state.

Hyderabad:

A corruption case has been filed against KT Rama Rao, former minister of Telangana and the son of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, over alleged irregularities in Formula E race held at Hyderabad in February 2023. The Anti-Corruption Bureau, which filed the case, has alleged that Rs 55 crore was allegedly transferred to Formula E organisers on the verbal orders of Mr Rao. 

Mr Rao has alleged that he is being targeted by the Congress government of Revanth Reddy, which came to power in the state last year, ending the 10-year rule of Mr Rao’s party, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi or BRS.

But on November 7, he said he was ready to face any inquiry. “It is the governor’s discretion. I have no objection if the governor gives permission for prosecution. We welcome it. We are ready for any inquiry,” he had told reporters.

In October this year, the Anti-Corruption Bureau had sought Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma’s nod to investigate KTR in the Formula E case.

Sources said former Municipal Administration and Urban Development principal secretary Arvind Kumar has admitted transferring Rs 55 crore to the event organisers on the verbal orders of the former minister who held the portfolio.

The irregularities in the transfer were multiple. Not only was the transfer made on verbal orders, it circumvented the cabinet approval and was done after elections were announced in Telangana without taking permission of the Election Commission.

It has also been alleged that the payment was made in pounds without the clearance of the Reserve Bank of India.

Mr Rao, who is also known as KTR, also held the Industry portfolio under the previous government headed by his father and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao. 

To conduct seasons nine,10,11 and 12 of the Formula E Race, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department or MAUD, had signed a tripartite agreement with Formula E Organisers (FEO) and Ace Nxt Gen Pvt limited in 2022. The ninth season of the car race was held in Hyderabad on February 10 and 11, 2023 and the next one scheduled for February 2024.

The promoter, Ace Nxt Gen, then dropped out, citing losses. 
Since the FEO was willing to organise the next season, Arvind Kumar transferred Rs 55 crore – including Rs 9 crore as taxes – to it, allegedly on the verbal order of Mr Rao.

After the Congress came to power last year, the Formula E Organisers pulled out and cancelled the February race.

Hyderabad:

The Telangana governor has cleared an investigation against BRS leader and former state minister KT Rama Rao over alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 55 crore in the organisation of a Formula E race in Hyderabad last year and the deal for future races, sources said on Friday. 

Mr Rao, who is also known as KTR, held the Industry and Municipal Administration and Urban Development portfolios, among others, under the previous government headed by his father and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Chief K Chandrashekar Rao. 

The Anti-Corruption Bureau had sought Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma’s nod to investigate KTR in the Formula E case. The Bureau has alleged that, as the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) minister, Mr Rao had given oral instructions for the transfer of Rs 55 crore to one of the race’s organisers, bypassing laid-down procedures. 

During the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation, which was triggered by a complaint from MAUD, a senior official from the department, Arvind Kumar –  who held the post of principal secretary at the time – had admitted that the instructions had been issued verbally by the then minister. 

Mr Rao, who is the MLA from Sircilla, had said last month that Hyderabad had benefited from hosting the Formula E race, which could generate a revenue of Rs 750 crore. He alleged that he was being targeted by the current Congress government led by Revanth Reddy – which dislodged the BRS last year after nearly a decade in power since Telangana’s formation in 2014 – and the BJP.

“Even the fear of imprisonment won’t stop me. If the government permits the investigation, I am ready to go to jail. I will plan a ‘padyatra‘ (foot march) while I am behind bars,” he said. 

The former minister had also claimed that cabinet approval was not needed for transferring the money. 

Contract Details

To conduct seasons nine,10,11 and 12 of the Formula E Race, MAUD had signed a tripartite agreement with Formula E Organisers (FEO) and Ace Nxt Gen Pvt limited in 2022. The ninth season of the car race was held in Hyderabad on February 10 and 11, 2023.

The promoter, Ace Nxt Gen, then dropped out, citing losses. Since the FEO was willing to organise the next season, Arvind Kumar transferred Rs 55 crore – including Rs 9 crore as taxes – to it, allegedly on the advice of Mr Rao

Another alleged irregularity included transferring a tranche of money to FEO after the schedule for the Assembly elections in Telangana was announced, without taking permission from the Election Commission, and making payments in pounds without obtaining clearance from the RBI.

Hyderabad:

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao sent a legal notice to Telangana’s Forests and Environment Minister Konda Surekha on Wednesday for defamation after she alleged that he was responsible for the divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

KT Rama Rao’s lawyer has asked the minister to withdraw the statement and tender an unconditional public apology to the BRS leader within 24 hours for tarnishing his reputation with a “malicious and defamatory act”.

Konda Surekha was also asked to refrain from engaging in any further malicious or frivolous defamatory acts.

According to the notice, if the minister fails to comply with these demands, KTR will initiate necessary and appropriate legal action against her.

The notice served by a legal firm on behalf of KTR states that due to a vitriolic campaign, their client was subjected to scandalous attacks with the sole motive of injuring his reputation.

“You along with media houses, have conspired to malign our client’s reputation based on false information, assumptions, lies and frivolous allegations,” reads the notice.

Ms Surekha made the allegations against the former minister while talking to media persons earlier in the day.

She alleged that Mr Rao was behind many actresses leaving films and marrying early.

She said the BRS leader was addicted to drugs and he blackmailed film personalities.

Popular Tollywood actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, who is the father of Naga Chaitanya, reacted strongly to the comments made by the minister.

Nagarjuna asked her not to use the lives of movie stars who stay away from politics to criticise her opponents.

“I strongly condemn the comments of the Honorable Minister Mrs. Konda Surekha. Don’t use the lives of movie stars who stay away from politics to criticize your opponents. Please respect other people’s privacy,” Nagarjuna posted on ‘X’.

“As a woman in a responsible position, your comments and accusations against our family are completely irrelevant and false. I request you to withdraw your comments immediately,” he added.

Naga Chaitanya also re-posted his father’s tweet.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Actor Samanta Ruth Prabhu’s response to Konda Surekha over her comments regarding her divorce with Naga Chaitanya, had a string message for the Telangana minister, advising her to be “responsible and respectful of individuals’ privacy” and leave her “out of political battles”.

The short note tacked to her Instagram hours after the minister’s comment was scathing. It accused the minister of indulging in speculation, misrepresentation of facts and trivialisation of her journey as a woman.  

“My divorce is a personal matter and I request that you refrain from speculating about it… To clarify: my divorce was mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved,” the actor wrote.

In a blistering attack on KT Rama Rao, son of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, earlier today, Ms Surekha linked him with the divorce of Samantha Ruth Prabhu and her former husband Naga Chaitanya. 

She had also said he was the reason why many actresses left movies and married early. KT Rama Rao, she claimed, blackmailed film personalities after getting them addicted to drugs.

Naga Chaitanya is yet to respond. His father, Nagarjuna Akkineni, was first off the mark. In a message on X, formerly Twitter, the veteran Telugu actor said minister’s remarks are “completely irrelevant and false” and demanded that she withdraws them.

“I strongly condemn the comments of the Honorable Minister Mrs. Konda Surekha. Don’t use the lives of movie stars who stay away from politics to criticize your opponents. Please respect other people’s privacy,” read a rough translation of his post. 

“As a woman in a responsible position, your comments and accusations against our family are completely irrelevant and false. I request you to withdraw your comments immediately,” he added.

Hyderabad:

A remark by a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), asking the party’s defectors to wear saree and bangles, has drawn a sharp retort from a Congress leader, who warned that he will be beaten up with footwear if he insults women.

Telangana BJP MLA P Kaushik Reddy was addressing a press conference when he showed a saree and bangles and told the MLAs defecting to the ruling Congress to wear them. Naming the MLAs, he said, “You are not men, so wear these and go around.”

A total of 10 MLAs have defected from the BRS, which lost power in the state in the Assembly election last year, to the Congress.

Responding to this, Congress leader Bandru Shoba Rani addressed the media and showed a shoe. Accusing Mr Reddy of insulting women, she said, “You showed saree and bangles. I will show you footwear. We will beat you up with footwear if you insult women,” said the Congress leader, who is the chairperson of the state women’s co-operative development corporation Chairman and a state Congress vice president.

The BRS has demanded the disqualification of all 10 BRS MLAs who defected to the ruling Congress after the election.

The matter has also reached the Telangana High Court. On Monday, the high court asked the Assembly Secretary to place the disqualification petitions of three BRS MLAs, who had joined the Congress, before Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. The three MLAs in question are Danam Nagender, Tellam Venkat Rao and Kadiyam Srihari. The court has asked the Speaker’s office to issue a schedule within four weeks of hearing and deciding on the petitions.

BRS Working President K T Rama Rao has said the court’s directive is a victory for democracy. “Now, the honorable Speaker Garu has 4 weeks to restore transparency and uphold the sanctity of the House. We fought relentlessly for this moment, no more betrayal of the people’s mandate! Jai Telangana!,” said Mr Rao, son of BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said in a post on X.

Hyderabad::

The Special Intelligence Bureau had not taken permission to tap phones of selected people, a Telangana home department official has said in an affidavit filed in the phone tapping case. Chief secretary Ravi Gupta has said the then Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao had not taken permission from him.

In the affidavit filed before the Telangana high court, Mr Gupta said Prabhakar Rao had been brought in as SIB chief for three years after his retirement from the intelligence wing. He played a key role in tapping phones of various people to help the state’s erstwhile Bharat Rashtra Samithi government.

The senior IPS officer filed the affidavit in response to a notice issued by the High Court, which has taken up the phone tapping case as a suo motu writ petition.

Ravi Gupta was the state home secretary from Oct 2019 to Dec 2022, when the alleged unauthorised phone tapping began and continued for another year. The home secretary is the competent authority for allowing interception.

Mr Gupta was brought back as the competent authority for the home department as special CS from July 9 this year, when he was moved from the post of the DGP.

“The then state government had issued separate orders allowing three senior IPS officers to permit interception on an urgent basis if there was no time to take approval from the competent authority (home secretary). But all such urgent actions had to be approved by the competent authority/home secretary later,” Mr Gupta said.

The government, he added, had issued an order on July 20, 2020, making Mr Rao the designated authority for carrying out phone tapping. The state government had conveyed the same to the telecom department, telecom companies and internet providers. But even this designated authority had to obtain post-facto approval from the competent authority (home secretary) to get his action ratified, Mr Gupta said in his affidavit.

“In many cases, the team led by Mr Rao went ahead with intercepting phones and internet of even constitutional functionaries without taking post-facto approval,” Gupta said, adding that the requirement is for the approval to be taken within seven days.

He also reportedly said he had realised the criminal nature of the activities of Rao and his team only after seeing the chargesheet in the phone-tapping case.

Mr Gupta has urged the court to close the suo moto case, pointing out that the investigating authorities have carried out extensive work and a chargesheet has already been filed in court and a supplementary charge sheet will be filed soon, reflecting the additional evidence gathered.

In the same case, an affidavit filed by the MHA official said their approval was not taken for the phone-tapping as the state’s home department is also a competent authority to issue an order for interception of the phones of any subscriber registered in his state.

Hyderabad:

Taking strong exception to BRS MLAs joining the ruling Congress in Telangana, BRS leader K T Rama Rao on Monday said his party had seen similar defections in the past when Congress was in power and that the grand old party had to eventually “bow down”.

Responding to BRS MLA from Jagtial, Sanjay Kumar, switching loyalties to Congress on Sunday, Mr Rao, who is working president of BRS, said the power of people is always stronger than the people in power.

“We have faced several defections of MLAs in the past in 2004-06 when Congress was in Government. Telangana responded strongly by stepping up the people’s agitation & eventually Congress had to bow its head. History shall repeat itself,” Mr Rao said on ‘X’.

The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) suffered yet another setback on Sunday as Mr Kumar joined the Congress.

Mr Kumar was welcomed into the Congress fold by Chief Minister and PCC president A Revanth Reddy, party sources said.

He is the fifth BRS MLA to join the Congress. A doctor by profession, Mr Kumar was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the second time.

Mr Kumar joining the Congress came close on the heels of senior BRS MLA and former Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy switching over to the grand old party on June 21.

Earlier, BRS MLAs Kadiam Srihari, Danam Nagender and Tellam Venkat Rao joined the ruling party.

Besides these MLAs, several other BRS leaders, including Hyderabad Mayor Vijaya Laxmi R Gadwal, have also joined the Congress.

There have been speculations that more BRS MLAs would join the Congress in the days to come.

BRS had won 39 of the total 119 Assembly seats in the elections held last year, while Congress came to power with 64 seats.

BRS MLA from Secunderabad Cantonment G Lasya Nanditha died in a road accident earlier this year.

Congress won the recently held bypoll for Secunderabad Cantonment segment. This led to an increase of its MLAs to 65. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)