Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Hits Back at Union Minister Kishan Reddy
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has responded strongly to Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy’s recent statements, calling them “irresponsible.” He emphasized that the Congress-led state government is committed to transparency and respects the federal structure of the Constitution.
During a discussion on infrastructure projects, Revanth Reddy pointed out that the central government had approved metro expansion projects in Bengaluru and Chennai since 2021, while Hyderabad’s Metro Phase II is still awaiting clearance. He reminded the public of his December 12 meeting with Kishan Reddy and his January 24 meeting with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, where he urged them to speed up approvals.
Revanth Reddy also criticized the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government for failing to push forward the Metro’s second phase. He assured that the Congress government is now prioritizing the metro expansion, planning five new corridors to improve connectivity for city residents and visitors.
Focus on Musi River and Regional Ring Road
Apart from the metro project, the Chief Minister highlighted his government’s commitment to the Musi River rejuvenation project, which he linked to Hyderabad’s cultural heritage and its role in irrigating Nalgonda district. He accused Kishan Reddy of double standards, pointing out that the Union Minister previously supported the Sabarmati riverfront and Ganga rejuvenation projects, yet opposes a similar initiative in Telangana.
Revanth Reddy also expressed concern over delays in approvals for the Regional Ring Road (RRR), a dry port, and a greenfield highway connecting Telangana with Andhra Pradesh’s seaports. He blamed Kishan Reddy for not acting swiftly on these crucial projects.
Demand for Fair Treatment
Rejecting Kishan Reddy’s claim that Telangana’s government lacks awareness of central approval processes, Revanth Reddy asserted that the state has followed all necessary procedures and even offered to share project costs. He accused the central government of discriminating against Telangana, while approving similar projects in neighboring states.
The Chief Minister compared Kishan Reddy’s tenure to that of leaders like S. Jaipal Reddy and G. Venkat Swamy, who had secured major benefits such as metro rail development and pension schemes for Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) employees. He questioned, “What is your contribution to Telangana as a Union Minister?”
Revanth Reddy stressed that Telangana’s infrastructure projects are critical for the state’s growth and urged Kishan Reddy to focus on securing ₹1.63 lakh crore worth of approvals and funding instead of engaging in political criticism.
