Let’s be like Tamilians when it comes to States’ interests: Telangana CM Revanth

Ruling party and the Opposition have the same cultural affinity and nationalistic spirit, says Vidyasagar Rao

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has appealed to senior BJP leaders from Telangana, including Union Ministers G.Kishan Reddy (Coal & Mines), Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Minister of State for Home), Rajya Sabha MP K.Laxman and former Governor Ch.Vidyasagar Rao, to use their good offices to get necessary permissions for works, including for metro rail expansion, from the Centre.

“I have no reservations in meeting anyone for the development of Hyderabad and Telangana. We need metro rail second phase for the future growth of the city and it needs clearance from the Union Cabinet. The Centre had earlier given such clearances to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. I appeal to stalwarts on the stage to take the initiative. I, alone, cannot do everything. I have no reservations about joining all of you in meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get the necessary permissions,” he said, on Sunday.

The Chief Minister launched the autobiography ‘Unaka’ of former Maharastra Governor and senior BJP leader Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and addressed a galaxy of political luminaries from different political parties including Governors – Bandaru Dattatreya (Haryana), K. Haribabu (Odisha), BRS leader Boinapally Vinod Kumar and others, where he called for presenting a united front for getting clearances works like regional ring road, regional ring rail, highway-rail line for connectivity to Machilipatnam port, etc.

“Tamil Nadu has a strong political divide among parties, but when it comes to safeguarding Tamil culture, language or their state interests, they all come together. I firmly believe government means not just ruling party MLAs but all the 119 elected MLAs including those from the Opposition. That is what our Constitution is about,” said Mr. Revanth Reddy.

The Chief Minister, who sat through the entire programme keenly listening to all the speeches for nearly two hours, also urged Mr.Vidyasagar Rao to use his influence with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to get permissions to utilise Godavari river water through gravity at Tummadihatti.

His government was ready to listen to the voices of dissent, criticism and suggestions and had never resorted to suspending Opposition MLAs in the last 12 months in the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister listed out the steps taken for setting up Skills University, modernising ITIs with Tata’s help, sports university and appointing teaching and non-teaching faculty to the universities to restore their past glory.

Mr.Revanth Reddy called for the revival of students’ political activity as the ideological base formed during those years will shape politics in future. “Lack of student politics has led to defections where people are jumping parties for posts,” he observed. The CM also praised Mr. Vidaysagar Rao for having a “rare and unblemished five decades political career sans any allegations” which enhanced the prestige of Telangana.

Mr.Vidyasagar Rao expressed support for the CM’s skills development initiative for the youth and River Musi rejuvenation project and also HYDRAA. He wanted the skills plan to be taken to the villages and urged Mr.Revanth Reddy to implement the Koneru Ranga Rao committee recommendations for protecting tribal lands.

“Ruling party and the Opposition {leaders} should meet more often than not. There is not much of a difference between both as it is the same cultural affinity and nationalistic spirit,” he remarked.

Other speakers talked about their relationship with Mr. Rao and the key role he had played in both the formation of Telangana as well as in highlighting its armed struggle for liberation.

Published - January 13, 2025 11:01 am IST