Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Sunday urged senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to clarify the party’s position on the promises made to farmers and others in Telangana.

In an open letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi, the Union Coal Minister recalled that during the Telangana Assembly election campaign in 2023, she unveiled the Congress party’s election manifesto titled “Abhayahastam,” but also personally assured the people of the state that the six guarantees would be implemented immediately upon the Congress party coming to power.

"The Congress party subsequently won the election and has now completed two full years in office. During this period, have you (Sonia Gandhi) ever reviewed or enquired about the status of the manifesto that you, along with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and the Congress party, promised to the people of Telangana? Did you even raise this issue when the Chief Minister met you recently?" he asked in the letter.

Referring to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy presenting Sonia Gandhi the “Telangana Rising – 2047 Vision Document” recently, Kishan Reddy said reports suggest that she appreciated the performance of the government over its two years in office and commended the CM’s vision for the state’s development.

The congratulations conveyed to Revanth Reddy on completion of two years in power give the impression that either Sonia Gandhi is unaware of the ground reality regarding the implementation of the guarantees, and that no serious attempt has been made to assess whether the promises made to the people have been fulfilled at all, the senior BJP leader said.

Instead of honouring the commitments given during the elections, the Telangana government appears to be misleading the people, he alleged.

"Under the guise of development, it has attempted to introduce a new narrative through a vision document, while the earlier guarantees remain unaddressed. Shockingly, the party leadership seems content to congratulate itself rather than demand accountability," he said.

Kishan Reddy sought to know if the Congress party is "abandoning" the guarantees made during the elections.

"Have the “420 promises” of the election manifesto been thrown into the Musi River, or quietly buried within the walls of Gandhi Bhavan? The people of Telangana deserve a clear and honest answer," he said.

Two years after assuming office, before floating new visions, fantasies, and promises, the Congress government must first demonstrate its integrity by fulfilling the commitments already made, he demanded.

Otherwise, the “Abhayahastam” (hand of assurance) once extended to the people will inevitably transform into a “Bhasmasura Hasta” (hand of destruction), fuelled by public anger, and will sweep the government out of power, he claimed in the letter, adding this “betrayal” of public trust will not go unanswered.

TPCC Chief dares Kishan for a debate 

Hyderabad: TPCC Chief Mahesh Goud on Sunday lashed out at Union Minister and BJP MP Kishan Reddy. He questioned whether Kishan Reddy, as a Union Minister, had brought anything to Telangana?  He challenged Kishan Reddy for a debate on the BJP's 12-year rule at the center versus the Congress party’s two-year rule in the state. Mahesh Goud alleged that Kishan Reddy was obstructing the state's development and had hindered the Musi River cleanup project and Metro rail expansion projects. Mahesh Goud stated that they had  fulfilled the majority of the promises they made to the people of the state .

He strongly criticized Union Minister Kishan Reddy for writing a letter to the Congress leader Sonia Gandhi regarding the implementation of the six guarantees. He said Kishan Reddy did not have the stature to question Sonia Gandhi. He alleged that the central government was showing discrimination against Telangana at every step. He said Kishan Reddy, who lacks the courage to question PM Modi, has no right to write a letter to their party leader Sonia Gandhi. He stated that the central government was showing bias against Telangana in all sectors from budget allocations onwards. 

He demanded that Kishan Reddy to explain what he had done for the state as a Union Minister. He pointed out that the BJP promised to create 2 crore jobs per year but there is no evidence of them creating 24 crore jobs in 12 years.

Commenting on former CM KCR, Mahesh Goud said that he would be happy if the BRS party chief KCR remains in public life. He stated that the problems with river water resources arose due to the mistakes made by KCR and former minister Harish Rao. He alleged   that KCR had spent unnecessarily on wasteful projects and added that they wanted KCR to come to the assembly. He said  that they would see what explanation KCR would give regarding the debts of the state . He stated that the Congress party wants the BRS party   to be an opposition party.