The governor declares Telangana freed from authoritarian control; BRS responds

In the just-finished elections to the state legislature, the people of Telangana delivered a resounding mandate to free themselves from a decade of oppression, the state’s governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan, said on Friday.

However, Tamilisai came under fire from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, who said that she had “conveniently ignored” Telangana’s advancements during the previous ten years.

According to her, the people’s decision made it clear that they would not “tolerate any repression.” The governor said Telangana was breathing fresh air of independence and liberty now that it had been emancipated from authoritarian control and dictatorial inclinations in her maiden speech to the recently established state parliament.

This decision served as a pillar for democratic governance and civil rights. The walls of iron that separated the people from the rulers have been taken down. She said, “I am happy to announce that the actual people’s government has started and that the glass houses and other barriers have been dismantled.

Tamilisai cited Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s remarks at his inauguration, stating that in a democracy, the ruling class is only the people’s servants, not feudal lords. “The people rule themselves and this is their government. The administration is always open to hearing from the public and addressing their complaints, the speaker said.

She went on to say that the state administration was dedicated to carrying out six promises for the people’s growth and well-being. “The government has executed two of the six guarantees—free travel for women in RTC buses under the Mahalakshmi scheme and raising the cap on free treatment for the poor to ₹10 lakh under the Rajiv Arogya Sri scheme—within 48 hours of the chief minister signing the file granting legal sanctity to the six guarantees,” she stated.

Within 100 days of taking office, she said, the administration would set out a clear and time-bound plan of action to carry out other promises made in the election platform, including the Indiramma Houses, Rythu Bharosa, Gruha Jyothi, Mahalakshmi Scheme, Yuva Vikasam, and Cheyutha.

We are giving the people of the state the assurance that the declarations made for farmers in Warangal, youth in Hyderabad, SC& ST in Chevella, and BC in Kamareddy would all be implemented in word and spirit as soon as possible. We will identify the families of the martyrs, provide them 250 square yards for the home sites, and pay them an honorarium, just as we promised,” she said.

The governor also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to provide the agricultural sector with a minimum support price for each crop and a high-quality, continuous electricity supply. Additionally, the governor announced the creation of an action plan that will waive ₹2 lakh in farm debts.

She went on to outline the government’s other priorities, which included restarting the power sector—which was deeply indebted to the tune of ₹81,000 crore—distributing title deeds for allotted and “podu” lands, starting an investigation into irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project’s construction, finishing up unfinished irrigation projects, filling open government positions by reorganizing the Telangana State Public Service Commission, giving away house sites to the impoverished, and addressing all concerns raised by the people represented at the Praja Vani program.

“All the institutions have been decimated in the previous nine and a half years. Unfortunately, in order to better serve people, democratically run institutions and organizations have been degraded. In a democracy if institutions engaged in individual worship, it would not bode well, he added.

Legislator Kadiyam Srihari of Bharat Rashtra Samithi responded angrily to the governor’s speech, claiming Tamilisai had simply recited the Congress platform and had not revealed any plans for the state’s growth.

“She has conveniently disregarded the advancements that Telangana has made in the last ten years, including having the highest per capita income and ranking first in the production of foodgrains, for which it has won numerous honors and recognition from the Center and NITI Aayog,” Srihari added.

The head of the BRS said that by declaring that Telangana was freed from oppression, the governor had resorted to outright lying. He said, “In actuality, Telangana gained its independence in 2014 itself.”