Communication should be two-sided, unlike Mann Ki Baat: Revanth

Emphasising that effective leadership requires senior officials to listen to their subordinates to understand the ground realities, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has said communication should not be one-sided like Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' speech.

Speaking at the 'Telangana Police Retreat 2026’ event of the state police, he said officials leading a department should communicate problems downwards and give juniors the autonomy and space to resolve them.

If senior officials exert pressure without ensuring that juniors fully understand the underlying issues, it often leads to a disconnect, he said.

"Because, in the uniform forces, it is one side (communication). In the 'Mann ki Baat' radio (programme), it is one-sided; we have to listen. There is nothing we can say from our side. In the 'Mann ki Baat', we have to listen to what he (PM Modi) says. So, instead of you alone speaking to those who work under you, like 'Mann ki Baat', ... if you have a 'push-pull' from below, it will be useful to you," he said on Monday.

Noting that field officers possess a better understanding of the ground realities, he said that senior officials can effectively understand issues if they "connect" with the former.

He admitted that his own feedback from the grassroots had thinned since his transition from an MLA to Lok Sabha member and now chief minister.

He urged police officials to move away from a mechanical approach while dealing with their juniors, stressing the need for a 'humanitarian approach', particularly in the police department.

Reddy also said he still takes feedback from village presidents and corrects his decisions.

He emphasised that the police department should upgrade from time to time to combat the growing cyber crimes and drug menace.

The CM affirmed that his government is ready to address the challenges and issues raised by the police department by constituting a committee headed by Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao soon.

In the wake of increasing online crimes, he suggested upgrading technology and recruiting technical experts to resolve the critical issues.

Lauding the efforts of police officers in providing better services to the people, the CM said maintenance of law and order is important for bringing investments to the state.

‘Scale down anti-Maoist commando force Greyhounds’

In the wake of Maoist activities waning in Telangana, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has hinted that senior police officials should consider scaling down staff in the Greyhounds, a specialised commando force that deals with the Left-Wing Extremist problem.

Speaking at the 'Telangana Police Retreat 2026’ event of the state police on Monday, Reddy said the 1,200 staff working in Greyhounds can be relocated to some other wings of the Police department.

“You have 1,200 well-trained people in the Greyhounds. In the wake of combing and other activities coming down, they can be rearranged in some other places (wings of the police department).

If there are sanctioned posts for a particular purpose and when that purpose is resolved, what is the use of continuing that staff in that department?” Reddy has asked.

Ahead of the March 31 deadline set by the Centre, as many as 130 Maoists, including some women cadre, surrendered before Revanth Reddy here on March 7.

"Now there is no Telangana state committee of Maoists. It had completely vanished," the DGP had then told reporters.

On February 24, top Maoist commander and the key "strategist" of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit, Thippiri Tirupati, also known as Devuji, surrendered before the Telangana police, after over four decades of underground life.

Besides Devuji, another central committee member, Malla Raji Reddy, and two other ultras -- Bade Chokka Rao @ Jagan and Nune Narasimha Reddy @ Ganganna also laid down their arms.

A senior police official of Telangana said there have been deliberations within the department on the issues of Greyhounds, and no decision has been taken yet.

“Even if the force is reduced, the services of the commandos can be used in some other wing of the police,” the official said.

The official said the packages offered to surrendered Maoists are implemented in letter and spirit in Telangana.

However, Reddy’s suggestion did not receive any enthusiasm from retired senior police officials.

They said the sudden slashing of the workforce from Greyhounds could lead to multiple problems, as there may be a shortage of trained personnel in future in case of requirement.

Another senior IPS officer who retired as DGP in the undivided Andhra Pradesh said Greyhounds, which was created in 1989-90, was regarded as one of the elite forces across the country with several states sending their personnel to get trained in the Greyhounds training academy.

“If the wing is abolished now, tomorrow you will not get trained personnel for the purpose. The Telangana Government has to tread carefully,” the former police official said.

Greyhounds, which handles Left-Wing Extremist problems on the police front with local police, was formed in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

The dedicated organisation/unit was developed by IPS officer K S Vyas. Greyhounds personnel are well-trained in jungle warfare to take on Maoists in the forests. Greyhounds became a training centre for anti-Maoist forces of other states, sources said.