KTR Comments Trigger Andhra-Telangana Row

Telangana IT & Industries Minister K T Rama Rao's remarks against the "bad conditions" in Andhra Pradesh created ripples in the political circles and evoked strong criticism from YSR Congress Party leaders, triggering an Andhra-Telangana row.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the CREDAI Property Show at Hitex on Friday, KTR quoted a friend of his who had come to Andhra Pradesh for the Sankranthi holidays and had commented on "the bad roads and the lack of power and water supply" in the State.

"But no such situation prevails in Telangana. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao sorted out the power problem within six months of the formation of Telangana State. In India, Telangana is the only State providing 24-hour power supply to all sectors," KTR claimed.

Responding to the remarks of KTR, Andhra Pradesh Education Minister and senior YSRCP leader Botsa Satyanarayana shot back strongly, saying that it was unbecoming on the part of the Telangana minister to talk about the neighbouring State, and demanded that he withdraw his comments.

"I am coming from Hyderabad just now; there was no power at my house in Hyderabad for two days. We had to manage on a generator. What does KTR say about it?" Botsa asked.

Reacting to Botsa's comments, TRS MP from Chevella Ranjith Reddy said that Botsa might not have paid the current bill for his house in Hyderabad. "But we are all enjoying uninterrupted power supply," he claimed.

Another senior YSRCP leader, Malladi Vishnu of Vijayawada, found fault with KTR for making tall claims about Hyderabad, which was developed with the sweat and blood of the coastal Andhra people.

"It was the Andhra people who taught culture to the people of Telangana. It was because of their investment that Telangana was developed. KTR should come to Vijayawada to see the progress and development in AP," he said.

The YSRCP MLA also claimed that Andhra Pradesh stood number one in implementing welfare schemes, and that its people were very happy with the Jagan Mohan Reddy government.

He warned that if KTR continued to make such remarks, an agitation to combine both the Telugu States would soon start.