Hyderabad, Jun 7 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s remarks that he drew inspiration from Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler while naming HYDRAA have sparked a political row with the BRS and the BJP strongly criticising him.
Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Saturday, Revanth Reddy had said he decided to establish HYDRAA after observing widespread encroachments of lakes and waterbodies.
“I can understand that poor people encroach on lakes and nalas. Nowadays, rich people are encroaching on waterbodies because of their farmhouses and connecting their drainage to the waterbodies. I have noticed all those issues. Then I decided to establish one task force–HYDRAA”.
He had further said, “Hydra was Hitler’s favourite word. His core team, which can assassinate anyone, was called Hydra. So, I have taken inspiration from Hitler, and I have named it HYDRAA”.
The chief minister said he established the organisation HYDRAA with its Commissioner, a senior IPS officer.
Hydra is a fictional organisation from Marvel Comics, which served as the deep science division of the Nazis during World War II.
Reacting to the Telangana CM’s remarks, Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, in a post on ‘X’ said Congress party’s “dangerous Hitler, Emergency Mindset” out in the open–yet again.
“Revanth Reddy, now openly boasting that Hitler inspired him to create HYDRAA and is comparing his demolitions in Hyderabad to those in war-torn countries like Iran and Israel, echoing his leader Rahul Gandhi’s language,” Kishan Reddy said.
He further alleged from “Emergency to Hitler – Congress has always muzzled people”, demanding that the CM tender an unconditional apology to the people of Telangana.
BRS Working President K T Rama Rao launched a scathing attack on Revanth Reddy over his remarks, alleging that the chief minister’s comments have exposed his “authoritarian and fascist” mindset before the entire nation.
Rama Rao, also known as KTR, said the statement reveals the ideological foundation behind the Congress government’s demolition-driven governance model.
“Hitler is clearly Revanth Reddy’s inspiration. HYDRAA reflects a style of governance that glorifies force, intimidation and demolitions. The people of Telangana have experienced these authoritarian tendencies firsthand, and now the chief minister has openly acknowledged the inspiration behind them,” Rama Rao said in a release.
The BRS leader alleged that HYDRAA, established by the Congress government, functions like an “assassination agency” targeting the livelihoods and homes of ordinary citizens.
“You (Revanth Reddy) celebrate dictators and take pride in demolishing the homes of poor and middle-class families. Telangana already knows your authoritarian nature. By publicly expressing admiration for Hitler-inspired methods, you have exposed your fascist thinking before the entire country,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the Congress leadership, KTR questioned whether the Congress high command endorses a chief minister publicly identifying one of history’s most brutal dictators as a source of inspiration.
“Does the Congress leadership approve of such statements? Is publicly invoking Hitler as an inspiration acceptable in a democratic country? The people of Telangana deserve answers,” he said.
The Telangana government established Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) in July 2024 to protect government assets, such as lakes, from encroachments and other illegal activities.
The agency has been carrying out operations to remove encroachments and has demolished several alleged illegal structures. PTI VVK GDK VVK ADB
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