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The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Andhra Cong chief Sharmila claims her phones were tapped with brother Jagan 'collusion' during KCR rule
The SIT is presently questioning retired IPS officer and former special intelligence branch chief T. Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the case, following his return to India earlier this month after about 15 months in the United States apparently to evade the probe and possible arrest. Sharmila's sensational claims come at a time when a Telangana Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government has intensified its probe into the alleged phone-tapping activities during the KCR-led BRS government in the state. Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Y.S. Sharmila has alleged her phones were tapped by the K. Chandrasekhar Rao government in collusion with her brother and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy 'to damage my political career'. The accusation is that based on the orders of the then political bosses, certain police officers, led by Rao, kept a surveillance on phone conversations of several opposition leaders, including the now incumbent chief minister Revanth Reddy, businesspersons, civil servants and also some media personnel. The case was registered in Hyderabad in March 2024, three months after the Congress came to power trouncing the two-term BRS dispensation. A few police officers including former Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) DSP Praneeth Rao were arrested last year in connection with the case. The SIT is also questioning witnesses, probing the alleged interception of calls made to and from about 600 individuals, more so during the BRS second term up until 2-3 months before the 2023 polls. BRS leaders have been denying their involvement in any surveillance activities. On Tuesday, former minister and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao sent a legal notice to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mahesh Kumar Goud, condemning his 'baseless and degrading allegations, and false claims' on phone-tapping and demanding an immediate unconditional apology from him. Goud appeared before the SIT on Tuesday to testify in the case, and accused the previous BRS government of orchestrating a massive and illegal phone-tapping network in order to outsmart the opposition parties, leaders and manipulate the election process. Talking to reporters later, Goud demanded the registration of cases against and punishment for KCR and KTR, while charging that 'mass interception of calls, messages, and chats weakened the Congress fight in the 2018 polls.' Speaking to reporters at Visakhapatnam Wednesday, Sharmila said the phone-tapping in Telangana was 'a fact, during the previous political term, when KCR was CM there (Telangana) and Jagan in Andhra Pradesh.' 'KCR, KTR and Jagan maintained very cordial relations even putting the siblings blood relation to shame,' said Sharmila, Jagan's younger sister. 'Jagan wanted to see that I do not grow politically, financially. He wanted to bury my future. People supporting me were threatened… phone-tapping was also part of this conspiracy.' Sharmila, the daughter of late Congress chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, parted ways with her brother and YSRCP chief Jagan, who was then Andhra CM, in 2021. She had then formed the YSR Telangana Party in Hyderabad to focus on Telangana politics. The YSR siblings are also involved in a bitter fight over assets and sharing of properties, a matter which went before the National Company Law Tribunal too. 'Phone-tapping in Telangana is absolutely true. I don't know if it was a joint operation or information-sharing arrangement between the then regimes but what is clear is that phones were being tapped. I was sure that my phones, my husband's and those of people close to me were being tapped,' Sharmila said, claiming it was confirmed to her by senior YSRCP leader and Jagan's close associate Y.V. Subba Reddy. 'Subba Reddy visited me at my Hyderabad residence once and informed me about this. He even played an audio conversation from one tapping for me to listen. I doubt if Subba Reddy will now admit this,' Sharmila said, suspecting Jagan's influence on him. 'But this is the truth and I am ready to depose before any investigation, promising on the Bible and on my kids,' said the Congress leader while urging the Revanth and Chandrababu Naidu governments to 'take up the issue seriously'. 'Now, the governments have changed in both states. I am willing to cooperate with any probe. The culprits should be punished. Phone-tapping is not just unethical, it is illegal, and a violation of Constitutional rights.' Also Read: Political rivalry & now an NCLT plea over 'illegal share transfer'. YSR siblings' bitter feud baffles AP 'Just to deflect public attention' On Tuesday, BRS Working President KTR slammed the Congress government and leaders for bringing up the phone-tapping issue 'without any evidence, merely to deflect public attention from its inability to fulfill election promises.' 'The Congress government, which failed to implement any of its guarantees since coming to power, is now indulging in theatrics using fabricated issues like phone-tapping. Making such disgraceful and unfounded accusations… without a shred of evidence, is highly condemnable,' he said, according to a press statement from his office. Referring to his questioning by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with the alleged Formula E races scam, KTR said that 'as a law-abiding citizen, he has even cooperated with inquiries into politically motivated cases filed against him.' The BRS leader accused the Congress leaders of 'raking up the phone-tapping issue once again with the malicious intention of misleading voters in the upcoming local body elections'. 'The so-called case will yield nothing even as both the chief minister and the PCC president are competing in a race of lies,' KTR said, while warning that Mahesh Goud will be held accountable in the courts for making 'irresponsible and politically motivated remarks.' (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Sharmila 'is also YSR's blood', but in family bastions Kadapa & Pulivendula, brother Jagan is supreme
Hans India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Ponguleti Promises Homes for All Under Indiramma Scheme
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has assured that all eligible people will receive homes under the Indiramma Housing Scheme. He announced that 4.5 lakh houses are being built in the first phase. On Wednesday, he took part in a program at Satyanarayanapuram in Khammam district, where land documents (pattas) were given to beneficiaries. Ponguleti criticized BRS leaders for spreading false claims about the scheme. He said his government is sincere and committed to helping the poor, unlike the previous government. He shared that the government plans to build 20 lakh houses over the next four years. In the Paleru constituency, he promised to give a house to the eldest son in every eligible family. He added that even though the state's financial situation is difficult, the government is still issuing ration cards. So far, 19 lakh new names have been added. Ponguleti accused the previous KCR-led government of pushing Telangana into debt. He said the state now pays ₹6,500 crore in monthly interest on loans taken earlier. He criticized the past government for spending on luxury buildings instead of helping the poor. He said the focus should have been on public welfare, not political gain.
News18
02-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Telangana IAS Officer Under Fire For 'Students Must Clean Toilets' Remark
Last Updated: IAS officer Alagu Varsini has said students studying in government schools are not from a posh background and should wash their toilets, do their cooking and sweep their rooms An IAS officer from Telangana has triggered a massive political row with comments about students cleaning toilets at their schools. Her comments have come under fire, with demands that the Revanth Reddy-led state government transfer her from her post. The officer, Alagu Varsini, reportedly said students studying in government schools are not from a posh background and should wash their own toilets, do their own cooking and sweep their rooms. She is the secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society and has said 'selective editing" of her comments had led to the controversy. The opposition, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has called her statement as displaying discriminatory attitudes towards students from marginalised communities, prompting the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to take note of the incident while also seeking details. According to a report published by NDTV, the NCSC on Monday issued a notice to Telangana chief secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and director general of police (DGP) Dr Jitender, asking about the comments. It has sought replies within a fortnight. The BRS has alleged that Varsini's comments are not only derogatory but can be seen as pushing the new generation of Dalit children into a similar situation as their previous generations. Party leader K Kavitha accused the Congress government in the state of taking away grants from Gurukul schools that enabled them to hire cleaners and caretakers. She targeted Revanth Reddy for being 'anti-poor, anti-Dalit" and demanded the officer's removal as well as the restoration of social welfare grants in these schools. 'Congress government's anti-poor attitude is reflected in this shocking behaviour by an official, at Social Welfare Gurukul Society. The evidence of which is available in the audio clip !! Each social welfare school was granted Rs 40,000 per month during the BRS rule for hiring four temporary workers for cleaning tasks. This has been stopped by Congress government starting May this year. The government has also done away with having assistant caretakers in the 240 schools, forcing the students to take up the role of wardens and manage kitchens. Now the officer is Forcing children to clean toilets in schools !!" (sic) she said in a post on X, where she also attached the viral audio clip. Kavitha said the social welfare grants cancelled by the Congress had been set aside by the previous KCR-led regime. 'The statements goes against the very concept of establishing Gurukuls to protect students from marginalised communities from caste and class bias. This behaviour is discriminatory, exploitative, and violates basic principles of child rights and dignity. It only Reflects Revanth Reddy government's anti poor, anti Dalith attitude !! I demand the government to immediately take steps to remove the officer and start giving the required funds to run the social welfare schools properly," (sic) she added. Congress government's anti-poor attitude is reflected in this shocking behaviour by an official, at Social Welfare Gurukul evidence of which is available in the audio clip !! Each social welfare school was granted Rs 40,000 per month during the BRS rule for hiring… — Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) May 28, 2025 WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY? Varsini's comments recently went viral after an audio clip surfaced in which she was heard saying 'holistic education includes teaching sanitation and personal hygiene". She, however, told NDTV that her intention was to ensure children under her care received 'an all-round education, both from books and lessons on self-care". '… the children come to us when they are 10 years old and leave when they are 18. In that time we want to provide a holistic education, not just a bookish education. If they enter the system at nine or 10 years old, and I make them study for nine hours and send them back, then what will they learn about self-care or cleanliness? Is education only from books? I don't think so," she was quoted. First Published: June 02, 2025, 16:34 IST
United News of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
BJP celebrates Telangana Formation Day, vows ethical governance: K Reddy
Hyderabad, June 2 (UNI) Telangana Formation Day was celebrated with grandeur at the BJP state office on Monday, where Union Minister and BJP Telangana President G Kishan Reddy unfurled the national flag in the presence of party leaders and activists. Addressing the gathering, K Reddy extended greetings to the people of Telangana and remembered the sacrifices of the youth during the statehood movement. He highlighted BJP's active role in the Telangana agitation, emphasising its early involvement through the JAC and its advocacy in Parliament. Reddy launched a strong attack on both the BRS and Congress, calling them exploitative and corrupt. He alleged that under their rule, Telangana has been pushed into a debt of Rs 10 lakh crore and failed to deliver the promises made during the movement. He criticised the KCR-led government for running the state like a private company and said the golden Telangana dream has only enriched the ruling family. He also targeted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing him of political opportunism, and asserted that the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to providing governance based on ethics, honesty, and the true aspirations of Telangana activists. Calling for an end to the rule of family-dominated parties, Kishan Reddy said the time has come for the BJP flag to fly high in Telangana. UNI VV ARN
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BRS sought BJP merger before Kavitha's arrest: Minister Bandi
KARIMNAGAR: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar claimed that the BRS had explored a merger with the BJP even before the arrest of BRS MLC K Kavitha in the Delhi liquor scam. But the BJP refused to entertain the proposal, he added. Addressing a gathering at the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation on Saturday, Sanjay accused the Congress of stoking controversies around Kavitha and BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) to deflect attention from its failure to implement the promised six guarantees. He criticised Congress leaders as ineffective and accused the party of failing to fulfill its commitments. Later, he inaugurated development projects worth Rs 2.63 crore under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Gangadhara mandal and laid the foundation stone for a Rs 2.33 crore high-level bridge in Venkatraopalle, Rajanna Sircilla district. Sanjay praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) but noted that farmers still aren't receiving fair prices. He blamed both the KCR-led and Congress-led governments for betraying the farming community. He also condemned Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's remarks as "seditious," alleging they undermined the confidence of the Army. He said the Congress lacks faith in the armed forces and questioned why Pakistan-occupied Kashmir wasn't reclaimed during Indira Gandhi's tenure if her leadership was truly strong.
