In a blistering attack that has sent shockwaves through Telangana's political landscape, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has demanded capital punishment for his predecessors, K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and T Harish Rao. The explosive accusation centers on what Reddy terms a monumental betrayal in the state's fight for its rightful share of river waters.
A Grave Accusation of Betrayal
Addressing a large public meeting in Mahabubnagar district on Tuesday, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy did not mince his words. He alleged that the former Chief Minister and his nephew, who served as the Irrigation Minister, committed an act of treason against the people of Telangana. The core of the allegation is that KCR and Harish Rao deliberately sabotaged Telangana's interests during the execution of key irrigation projects on the Krishna River, particularly concerning the Handri-Niva and Galeru-Nagari projects.
Reddy asserted that the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, under KCR's leadership, entered into a secret agreement with the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh. This deal, he claims, severely compromised Telangana's rightful allocation of water, cheating the state and its farmers out of a precious resource. "They have committed a sin for which they deserve to be hanged," the Chief Minister declared, framing the issue not just as political failure but as a criminal act against the populace.
The Specific Allegations and Political Context
The Chief Minister's fury is directed at the management of projects linked to the Krishna River. He accused the BRS leaders of deliberately slowing down the Handri-Niva project in Telangana while allowing Andhra Pradesh to accelerate its Galeru-Nagari project. This asymmetric progress, according to Reddy, was part of a covert understanding that has left Telangana at a significant disadvantage.
Revanth Reddy promised to make all related documents and secret agreements public, vowing to expose the truth to the people. He positioned his administration, which came to power in December 2023, as the corrective force that will fight for the state's water rights. His speech was a direct appeal to the farmers and residents of the drought-prone regions of Mahabubnagar and surrounding areas, who have long-standing grievances over water scarcity.
This attack is seen as a strategic move to keep the BRS, the main opposition party, on the defensive. By focusing on an emotionally charged issue like water distribution, which is critical for agriculture and livelihoods, the Congress government aims to solidify its support base and paint the previous regime as anti-Telangana.
Reactions and the Road Ahead
The allegations have set the stage for a fierce political battle. The BRS is expected to launch a strong counterattack, dismissing Reddy's claims as baseless and politically motivated. The controversy also puts the spotlight on the long-standing and complex water-sharing disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which remain a potent source of inter-state tension.
Chief Minister Reddy has pledged to take legal and administrative steps to rectify the situation. His government's commitment to investigating the alleged secret pacts and pursuing Telangana's water claims aggressively will be closely watched. The demand for "hanging" is largely viewed as rhetorical political hyperbole, but it underscores the seriousness of the corruption and injustice allegations being leveled.
As the war of words intensifies, the people of Telangana await concrete action from the current government to reclaim what they believe is their rightful share of water, turning this political firestorm into a test of governance and justice.
