Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Challenges BRS Leader Harish Rao on Farm Loan Waiver

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has challenged BRS leader Harish Rao, vowing to implement a Rs 2-lakh farm loan waiver by August 15 despite the state's budget deficit. During a public event in Warangal, Reddy criticized KCR's unfulfilled promises and BJP candidate DK Aruna's opposition to the Narayanpet lift irrigation project.

Reddy appealed to banks not to serve notices to farmers to recover crop loan arrears, assuring that the Congress government has decided to waive crop loans up to Rs. 2 lakh after the Lok Sabha election code ends in June. He asked farmers not to worry about their loans as the state government would clear them.

Harish Rao, a senior BRS leader and former Minister, has accepted Reddy's challenge. Rao stated that if the loan is waived off by the deadline, he will resign as an MLA, and if not, Revanth Reddy should resign as CM. Rao criticized Reddy for never fulfilling the Congress party's pre-election promises, such as providing Rs 2,500 to women under the Mahalaxmi scheme and Rs 15,000 under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. He also questioned the status of the promised unemployment allowance and paddy bonus.

Why this matters: The farm loan waiver challenge highlights the ongoing political tensions and competing promises in Telangana. The outcome of this challenge could have significant implications for the state's farmers and the credibility of the leading political figures involved.

Reddy urged the people of the undivided Mahabubnagar district to strengthen his hands by giving a huge majority to the Congress in both Lok Sabha seats, as he was the first from the district to head the Congress as TPCC chief and the state as Chief Minister. He claimed that the Congress had offered BRS candidate and former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar the TSPSC chairman's post to help the weaker sections, but Kumar had rejected it to join ranks with KCR, who was against SC categorization.

Key Takeaways

• Telangana CM Revanth Reddy challenges BRS leader Harish Rao to waive ₹2L farm loans by Aug 15.
• Harish Rao accepts the challenge, offering to resign as MLA if the loan waiver is not implemented.
• Reddy criticizes KCR's unfulfilled promises and BJP's opposition to the Narayanpet lift irrigation project.
• Reddy urges voters to strengthen Congress in Lok Sabha polls, claims BRS rejected TSPSC chairman post offer.
• The loan waiver challenge highlights political tensions and competing promises in Telangana.