Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy attributed Donald Trump’s claims of mediation in ending Operation Sindoor to what he described as the US president’s “attention-seeking disorder.”
In conversation with ThePrint’s Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta at a session of Off The Cuff in Hyderabad, Reddy observed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed in upholding the country’s sovereignty in internal security, external relations as he let Trump set the agenda and narrative.
“My observation is that Trump has attention-seeking disorder. He thinks anything happening anywhere in the world is because of him. When he attends a grand wedding, he wants to be the groom there,” Reddy said as the audience broke into laughter.
The Telangana chief minister criticised Modi for the abrupt halting of the military offensive against Pakistan.
“I led a rally, taking along AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, in Hyderabad post Pahalgam and supported Modi in a war against Pakistan. But when Operation Sindoor was stopped abruptly, without any consultation or consensus, it was not Modi but Trump who announced first that the India-Pakistan conflict has stopped because of his intervention,” Reddy said.
“Modi failed 200 percent in internal security, external relations, as he is running the country as per Trump’s instructions. This is not good for us.”
Nevertheless, Reddy defended his on-stage bonhomie with the PM on a few occasions earlier. In the first major public meeting in Telangana where he had shared the stage with the PM, after assuming the CM seat, Revanth had described Modi as ‘bade bhai’ (elder brother).
“Yes, as the PM, Modi is the elder brother of every CM in the country. For my state’s interest, I extend that sort of respect. If he reciprocates, viewing me as his younger brother, it’s good for the state, right?” Reddy remarked.
On his association with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) earlier and the Congress since 2017, the Congress Chief Minister said that he “learnt progressive thinking, administrative skills from Chandrababu Naidu, and how to work dedicatedly for the public welfare, benefit from Rahul Gandhi.”
Reddy observed that “anyone can become an elected representative, by luck, by fluke, by political legacy … but to become a leader you need leadership qualities.”
On his links with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in his college days, Reddy stated that “the ABVP is different from the BJP.”
“As ABVP activists, we differed from the BJP on several matters, in-fact worked against the BJP in a few polls. I agree to my affiliation to the ABVP, not the BJP,” the Congress CM said categorically.
An ex-ABVP activist & former TDP legislator, Revanth Reddy was made the Telangana Congress chief in mid-2021. He scripted the party’s victory in the 2023 Telangana polls, dislodging the two-term chief minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao.
Reddy began his political career with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), now the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), in 2001-02 before joining the TDP in 2008. He switched to the Congress nine years later. Though branded an “outsider” earlier, he enjoys the support of Gandhi family.
‘Very good equation with Rahul’
Reddy described his equation with Rahul as cordial, excellent. “With Rahul ji, I have a very good equation, relation. He has the commitment towards the down-trodden—SC, ST, OBC, whoever needs the state’s support, has firm idea about balancing development and welfare. Having seen this commitment, I resolved to work with him,” Reddy said, adding it “as the inspiration for his government in Telangana.”
“People say Rahul Gandhi failed. Does becoming a minister, the Prime Minister (is) considered as having passed some test? Though sitting in the opposition, he (Rahul) is operating with an ideology, fulfilling his duties. I, too, adopted that approach, fulfilling my responsibilities towards the public, for their benefit, welfare,” Reddy said.
On his government conducting a “scientifically carried out, fool-proof” caste survey last year, Reddy attributed it to Rahul’s promise.
“Rahul ji says caste census is X-ray of the society, I call it a mega-health check-up. We have the survey data, which is an asset in hand. I know who is deserving and undeserving of government support in society.”
“Telangana survey is not just about quota. It’s socio-economic, education, employment, political and caste survey. Caste comes last,” Revanth said in reference to his government’s Socio, Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste Survey (SEEEPC) 2024.
Reddy says that other state governments are now under obligation to conduct caste surveys.
“Because of our caste survey, the BJP-led central government decided to include caste-wise count as part of the census in 2026. When it becomes a compulsion for Modi, others will have to do it. The caste survey, census will become a game changer across the country.”
Taking several questions from the audience, the Telangana CM said that his government is preparing a vision document ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ to further develop the state.
Stating his resolve for all round development, industrial promotion, Reddy said he has created a special cell in the CMO to chase investments.
On a question about the state of civic infrastructure in the Telangana capital, the CM noted that “60 percent of state revenue comes from Hyderabad,” and “so I can’t ignore the city, the people, their grievances.”
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