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Telangana’s political landscape heated up Wednesday as Congress spokesperson Sama Ram Mohan Reddy launched a scathing critique of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, accusing them of spreading misinformation regarding an ongoing phone tapping investigation.
Reddy, who serves as the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Media and Communications Chairman, specifically targeted former ministers Harish Rao and K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), claiming they were engaging in “drama and deliberate misinformation” to mislead the public.
“Harish Rao spoke about an entirely different case and claimed it was quashed by the courts. That is completely misleading. The present case is different,” Reddy told ANI, refuting claims made by the BRS leader during a recent press conference.
The controversy centers around Harish Rao’s questioning by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with an alleged phone tapping case. The former minister spent nearly eight hours with investigators on Tuesday at the Jubilee Hills ACP office, where heavy police deployment had been arranged in anticipation of his appearance.
According to Reddy, Harish Rao was summoned after his name emerged in the statement of an accused who reportedly owns a media channel. “Harish Rao was called for an investigation because his name was mentioned in the statement of an accused,” Reddy explained, adding that after the questioning, Rao attempted to “project himself as an authority by questioning police officials on why certain officers, including the DGP, were not summoned.”
The investigation has increasingly become a flashpoint in Telangana’s political arena, with BRS leaders claiming political vendetta. Before his questioning, Harish Rao told media the notice was politically motivated and issued only after BRS had exposed alleged irregularities involving Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his relatives.
Reddy also addressed separate allegations raised by BRS concerning coal mining tenders. He clarified that the issue was first highlighted by media outlets, not BRS leaders, and that the Deputy Chief Minister had already addressed the matter. “In the interest of transparency, the government cancelled the tenders,” Reddy noted, emphasizing that the clause being cited as problematic has actually existed since 2018, during the previous BRS government.
The Congress spokesperson criticized BRS leadership for what he described as a pattern of making baseless allegations without supporting evidence. “The Congress government has consistently backed its statements with official documents,” he said, suggesting that if BRS leaders had legitimate concerns, they should have raised them in the Assembly rather than “spreading misinformation through the media.”
The political tensions have further escalated with BRS leader K. Kavitha raising questions about phone tapping. Reddy countered that these inquiries should be directed to former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), KTR, and Harish Rao. He expressed confidence that the investigation could potentially extend to KTR and KCR if warranted by the evidence.
Dismissing KTR’s social media statements on the matter, Reddy asserted that such posts hold “no credibility among the people of Telangana” and characterized recent allegations involving Congress MP Mallu Ravi as “false and misleading.”
The political confrontation comes at a sensitive time for Telangana politics, as the Congress government, which came to power after defeating the long-ruling BRS, attempts to establish its authority while facing aggressive opposition from its predecessors.
Harish Rao, who claimed the summons arrived late Monday night while he was campaigning in Siddipet, maintained he was not afraid of any inquiry and would cooperate with investigators. However, he accused the government of “misusing police machinery to intimidate opposition leaders and divert attention from alleged corruption.”
The phone tapping case represents just one flashpoint in the increasingly contentious relationship between Telangana’s ruling Congress party and the opposition BRS, with both sides leveraging the investigation to advance their political narratives in the southern state.
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16 Comments
The accusations of misinformation and political theatrics are serious. It will be important for both sides to present their cases clearly and transparently, allowing the public to draw their own conclusions based on the available evidence.
Agreed. This is a sensitive political issue, and a measured, fact-based approach is needed to avoid further polarization and ensure the integrity of the investigation.
This seems like a complex political saga involving allegations of misinformation and abuse of power. As an observer, I’m curious to see how the various stakeholders respond and whether any concrete evidence emerges to support the claims on either side.
It will be important for the public to have access to objective, fact-based reporting on this matter so they can form their own conclusions. Partisan rhetoric from politicians is often unhelpful in these situations.
The phone tapping allegations are certainly concerning, if true. I hope the investigation is able to uncover the facts and provide clarity, without being unduly influenced by political posturing or partisan rhetoric.
Agreed. Matters of this nature require a sober, evidence-based approach. Sensationalism and political grandstanding will only serve to erode public confidence in the process.
This seems like a highly charged political situation, with both sides making strong allegations. I hope the investigation into the phone tapping claims is conducted thoroughly and impartially, without undue influence from any political faction.
Maintaining transparency and public trust will be crucial in this case. The public deserves to have access to accurate, unbiased information to form their own assessments of the situation.
The phone tapping allegations are certainly concerning, if true. I hope the investigation is thorough and impartial, regardless of the political affiliations involved. Transparency and accountability are crucial in these matters.
Agreed. Politicizing such serious issues is counterproductive. The focus should be on uncovering the facts and ensuring proper legal processes are followed.
Interesting to see the political tensions heating up in Telangana. It seems the Congress party is accusing the BRS leaders of spreading misinformation about an ongoing phone tapping investigation. I wonder what the full story is and how this will all play out.
The accusation of “drama and deliberate misinformation” is a serious one. It will be important to see if the Congress party can substantiate their claims and provide clear evidence.
This is a complex political situation with competing narratives. I’m curious to see how the investigation into the phone tapping allegations progresses and whether any conclusive evidence emerges to support the claims made by the Congress party.
Maintaining objectivity and focusing on the facts will be crucial in this case. Relying on credible, non-partisan sources of information will be important for the public to form their own assessments.
The phone tapping allegations raise concerning questions about potential surveillance and abuse of power. I hope the investigation is conducted thoroughly and impartially to uncover the truth, regardless of the political affiliations involved.
Agreed. Matters of this nature require a measured, fact-based approach. Sensationalism and political grandstanding will only serve to muddy the waters and undermine public trust.