Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over his HYDRAA remarks at The Hindu Conclave in Bengaluru. He alleged that the comments reflected an authoritarian approach to governance and exposed the thinking behind the Congress government’s policies.
In a statement, KTR referred to the Chief Minister’s remarks linking HYDRAA’s functioning to the actions of Adolf Hitler. According to him, the comments had drawn national attention and sparked fresh debate over the government’s approach to demolitions and enforcement measures.
KTR alleged that the Congress government was promoting a model based on force and intimidation rather than democratic governance. Furthermore, he claimed that Telangana residents had already experienced the consequences of such policies through the functioning of HYDRAA.
The BRS leader accused the administration of relying on coercive methods instead of focusing on welfare and public service. He also alleged that the government was taking pride in demolition drives that affected poor and middle-class families.
According to KTR, HYDRAA had become a symbol of what he described as demolition-driven governance. He claimed that ordinary citizens were facing uncertainty because of the agency’s actions.
HYDRAA remarks intensify political confrontation
Drawing a comparison with the previous BRS administration, KTR said his party had governed according to democratic and constitutional principles. He stated that the former government followed the ideals of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Professor Jayashankar during its decade in power.
Moreover, he argued that governance should remain rooted in constitutional values and democratic accountability. He maintained that Telangana’s development was guided by those principles under the previous administration.
KTR also questioned whether the Congress leadership supported the Chief Minister’s comments. He asked whether references to one of history’s most controversial dictators were appropriate in a democratic system.
Additionally, he said the people of Telangana deserved a clarification from the Congress high command regarding the remarks. According to him, elected leaders must exercise caution while making public statements on governance.
The BRS working president further alleged that the Congress government had become associated with demolitions, coercion and intimidation. However, he said the people of Telangana expected governance focused on development, welfare and public trust.
KTR asserted that the BRS would continue to oppose policies it considered harmful to democratic values. He also expressed confidence that voters would reject any attempt to normalise what he described as authoritarian methods of governance.
