Telangana Congress President Demands Accountability from KTR on Phone Tapping Scandal
In a sharp rebuke to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi leadership, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Friday called upon BRS working president KT Rama Rao to engage in serious introspection regarding the ongoing phone tapping controversy that has rocked the state's political landscape.
Constitutional Violation and Personal Freedom Breach
Addressing media representatives in Hyderabad, the TPCC chief asserted that listening to private conversations between individuals constitutes a fundamental violation of personal freedom and represents a grave offense against democratic principles. Goud emphasized that the phone tapping case cannot be trivialized by comparing it with agitation-related incidents, as it involves systematic surveillance that undermines constitutional safeguards.
"The phone tapping revelations represent a serious constitutional offense that strikes at the very heart of personal liberty," declared Goud, highlighting that even law enforcement officials operate within defined limitations when conducting investigations.
Silence from KTR Despite Family Allegations
The Congress leader pointed out the conspicuous absence of any substantial explanation or rebuttal from KT Rama Rao, despite his own sister, K Kavitha, publicly alleging that both her phone and her husband's communications were intercepted during the previous BRS government's tenure. This familial accusation, according to Goud, adds significant credibility to the surveillance allegations and demands transparent accountability.
Dismissing KTR's claims of being politically targeted in the investigation as "laughable and baseless," Goud asserted that the current probe is being conducted strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions and legal frameworks. He challenged the narrative of political vendetta by questioning why immediate action wasn't taken if the Congress government had malicious intentions upon assuming power.
Scriptural References and Allegations of Systematic Looting
In a scathing metaphorical attack, the TPCC chief described KTR's defensive statements as "akin to the devil quoting scriptures," suggesting hypocrisy in the BRS leader's position. Goud escalated his criticism by alleging that "KCR's family looted public resources like the gang of Ali Baba and his forty thieves," directly characterizing the BRS as "a systematic gang of thieves" operating under political cover.
Broader Political Criticism and Surveillance Revelations
Expanding his critique beyond the BRS, Goud also targeted Union minister Bandi Sanjay and questioned the BJP's conspicuous silence regarding corruption allegations connected to the Kaleshwaram irrigation project. He further challenged why Enforcement Directorate cases involving BJP leaders remain unresolved, highlighting what he perceives as selective application of investigative mechanisms.
The Congress president clarified that legitimate phone surveillance should be exclusively reserved for threats to national security, rather than being weaponized against political opponents. Revealing personal experience, Goud alleged that he too was subjected to surveillance during the previous administration under the pretext of alleged connections with Naxalite elements.
Widespread Surveillance Network Exposed
In startling revelations about the scale of surveillance operations, Goud claimed that approximately 547 phones were intercepted within just three months during the BRS government's tenure. He disclosed that even his friend's communications were monitored, suggesting a surveillance apparatus that extended far beyond legitimate security concerns.
"Why were even film celebrities' phones being tapped? What was the underlying intention behind such extensive monitoring?" questioned Goud, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the surveillance operations.
Internal Family Disputes and Financial Motivations
Regarding the Kavitha episode, the TPCC president suggested that internal disputes within the KCR family stem from disagreements over "distribution of substantial financial resources" accumulated during their tenure. He welcomed Kavitha's decision to speak out about the surveillance, viewing it as validation of the Congress party's longstanding allegations against the previous administration.
Congress Leadership Solidarity
Other prominent Congress leaders, including government whip Beerla Ilaiah and MLC Addanki Dayakar, joined in criticizing KTR for what they characterized as baseless allegations regarding the phone tapping issue. They emphasized that Kavitha's own statements substantiate the surveillance claims, creating an undeniable evidentiary foundation for the ongoing investigations.
The collective Congress position maintains that the phone tapping revelations expose a pattern of constitutional violations and abuse of power that demands thorough judicial examination and political accountability from all involved parties.
