Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Friday came down heavily on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, alleging that he had tapped phones of his own Cabinet members. Speaking at an event in Khammam, KTR challenged the Chief Minister to spell out the facts behind the allegations.
"I directly question Revanth Reddy — if you are a man, tell the truth. Aren't you tapping the phones of Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, fearing they would grab your seat?" KTR said, ratcheting up the rhetoric.
The shock charges come as Congress is under mounting pressure over its very handling of big ticket cases, such as the current phone-tapping case and the controversial Hyderabad drug syndicate connections.
Taking a swipe at it, Congress MLC Balmoori Venkat minced no words. "BRS Government means phone tapping. Phone tapping means KCR and KTR. Let KTR take a lie detector test to prove they didn't tap the phones of Judicials, journalists, or celebrities," he alleged.
Targeting KTR, Venkat alleged, "Some of those nabbed in earlier cases of drug peddling had close connections with KTR. Since the coming to power of our government, a person connected with tourism events — known to be close to KTR — was arrested at a rave party."
Also read: KTR slams Congress after no-show at Hyderabad debate
The MLC also stated that leaders of Congress publicly issued a challenge to KTR to take a drug test. "We are willing to provide our samples anywhere. But why is KTR quiet? Why did he not give his samples?"
Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party president Ramchander Rao meanwhile described the slugfest between Congress and BRS as theater.
"This is shadow-boxing. Both sides are covering each other. The probe is nowhere. That's why BJP is demanding CBI investigation. Congress is obviously trying to cover up some people," Rao declared.
With Congress and BRS exchanging punches and BJP accusing it of a cover-up, Telangana's political arena just turned bloodier — and the war of words, uglier.
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