Harish Rao questions Revanth’s role in Telangana movement

At a media interaction held at the Sangareddy MLA camp office, former minister T Harish Rao launched a blistering attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, questioning his contribution to the Telangana movement and accusing him of betraying the cause. Harish Rao compared Revanth’s behavior to “a cat embarking on a pilgrimage after devouring a hundred rats,” criticising his attempts to rewrite the state’s history.
Harish Rao highlighted Revanth’s lack of involvement in the Telangana movement, stating, “Not once did Revanth say ‘Jai Telangana’ or lay a flower at the martyrs’ memorial. He was never a part of the movement. Claiming that Telangana was granted out of someone’s kindness is an insult to the sacrifices of our martyrs and the aspirations of Telangana’s people.”
Rao blamed the Congress party for repeatedly betraying Telangana, citing instances from history, including the suppression of the 1969 Telangana agitation during Indira Gandhi’s regime. “The Congress has a legacy of betrayal, from merging Telangana into Andhra against Fazal Ali Commission’s recommendations to suppressing movements with iron fists,” he said.
Referring to the events leading up to the creation of Telangana, Harish Rao credited K Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) relentless struggle for the state’s formation. “The December 9 announcement by Chidambaram was the result of KCR’s fast-unto-death protest, not any act of charity by Congress. Claiming otherwise is a distortion of history,” Harish Rao asserted.
Harish Rao accused Revanth of being a political opportunist with no moral right to speak about Telangana. “While we were in jails facing 350 cases, where was Revanth? Not a single case was filed against him during the movement. He betrayed the cause and now speaks about Telangana as if he played a role,” Harish Rao remarked.
He also dismissed Revanth’s claims about Telangana Thalli statues, calling them baseless. “The Telangana Thalli statue was inaugurated on June 2, 2015, at Sangareddy Collectorate, in the presence of the MLA, Collector Rahul Bojja, and myself. Revanth’s ignorance on this matter is shameful,” he added.
Rao criticised Revanth Reddy’s governance, alleging that welfare schemes like KCR Kit and Dalit Bandhu were stalled, while deaths in welfare schools and other lapses had increased. He concluded by asserting that no amount of distortion could erase KCR’s contributions to Telangana.
“Revanth’s history is one of betrayal, not transformation. His opportunism and ignorance have no place in the true story of Telangana’s struggle,” Harish Rao declared.