KTR tears into Rahul Gandhi over Telangana visit; accuses him of ignoring people's suffering

In a strongly worded post on X, KTR questioned Rahul Gandhi's absence during protests by unemployed youth, alleged police excesses against tribal women, demolitions undertaken by HYDRAA, environmental controversies and political defections involving BRS legislators. He alleged that the Congress leader had failed to intervene on issues affecting ordinary people despite the party's promises to Telangana voters.

The BRS leader's criticism comes ahead of Rahul Gandhi's scheduled participation in the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad and a major gathering of gig workers on November 14, where the Telangana government is expected to announce welfare measures and regulations for platform-based workers.

KTR began his criticism by referring to protests by unemployed youth demanding the fulfilment of recruitment promises made by the Congress before the Assembly elections. He alleged that students and job aspirants had faced police action while Rahul Gandhi remained absent.

He then raised the Lagacharla controversy, alleging that tribal women had been subjected to violence, humiliation and sexual harassment during the dispute over land acquisition for industrial development. The allegations have been central to the BRS campaign against the Congress government, although the specific claims made by KTR require independent verification.

Turning to Hyderabad, KTR accused the government of destroying the homes of working-class families through demolitions carried out by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA). He alleged that Rahul Gandhi had remained in Delhi while affected families struggled with the consequences of the demolition drives.

Environmental issues also featured prominently in his criticism. KTR referred to the controversy surrounding the Kancha Gachibowli lands near the University of Hyderabad, alleging that more than 10,000 trees had been felled and wildlife habitats destroyed. He also cited concerns surrounding KBR National Park, accusing the Congress leadership of ignoring environmental damage in the city.

The BRS working president further questioned Rahul Gandhi's silence over the defection of 10 BRS MLAs to the Congress. He alleged that constitutional processes had been undermined and accused the ruling party of encouraging defections rather than respecting the electoral mandate.

KTR also referred to an alleged incident involving women legislators near the Telangana Assembly, claiming that they had been physically assaulted and their sarees pulled. He questioned whether Rahul Gandhi had spoken out against the alleged treatment of women representatives.

Expanding his criticism, KTR listed farmer suicides, weaver suicides, arrests of journalists, land-grabbing allegations and what he described as crony capitalism among the issues on which the Congress leader had allegedly remained silent. He also claimed that Congress legislators and ministers themselves had publicly raised concerns about corruption within the government.

The most pointed part of his statement concerned the expenditure associated with Rahul Gandhi's visit. KTR alleged that ₹100 crore of Telangana taxpayers' money was being spent on what he termed a political propaganda exercise. The figure was presented as an allegation by the BRS leader, and no supporting expenditure records were included in his statement.

“You chose silence when it mattered!” KTR declared, before questioning Rahul Gandhi's decision to attend the Hyderabad events. He concluded his post with the hashtag #CongressFailedTelangana.

The attack reflects the intensifying political confrontation between the BRS and Congress, particularly as the ruling party seeks to highlight its governance initiatives and international outreach through the Bharat Summit.

For the BRS, Rahul Gandhi remains a central political target because of his prominent role in the Congress campaign preceding the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections. KTR's latest statement attempts to contrast the promises made during that campaign with the opposition party's allegations concerning the government's subsequent performance.

The Congress government, meanwhile, has presented the Bharat Summit as an international platform for discussions on democratic governance, global cooperation and India's evolving role in world affairs. The proposed gig workers' gathering is intended to focus on welfare and social security measures for a growing section of the workforce.

KTR's allegations and characterisations represent the BRS position. The claims concerning violence, corruption, environmental destruction and public expenditure have not been independently established by the social media statement.

With Rahul Gandhi's Hyderabad engagements drawing national attention, the latest exchange is likely to sharpen the political debate over the Congress government's record in Telangana and the accountability of its national leadership.