A political controversy has erupted in Telangana after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks suggesting that Congress workers in the state could collectively arrange Rs 1,000 crore for the Gandhi family if required drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
During a recent speech, Reddy said that financial considerations held little importance for the Gandhi family, whom he described as having sacrificed three generations in service of the country. He added that if the family ever faced financial difficulty, Congress workers in Telangana possessed the capacity and willingness to mobilise substantial funds, even suggesting that raising Rs 1,000 crore would be possible. He further remarked that, given the loyalty of party workers, even larger amounts could theoretically be arranged if necessary.
The comments triggered strong reactions from the BJP, which accused the Congress leadership of prioritising a political dynasty over public welfare. BJP national IT department head Amit Malviya criticised the statement on social media, questioning whether Telangana’s resources were being treated as an “ATM” for the Congress leadership. He argued that at a time when issues such as employment notifications and farmer welfare required attention, the chief minister’s remarks reflected misplaced priorities.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi also condemned Reddy’s statement, echoing similar criticism. Party spokesperson Krishank Manne alleged that the remarks reinforced concerns that Telangana was being used to serve the interests of the All India Congress Committee rather than focusing on governance and development within the state.
Reddy’s comments were made while criticising the BJP-led central government and defending the political legacy of the Gandhi family. He asserted that money was not a defining factor for them and accused the BJP of engaging in political actions aimed at damaging the reputation of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. He also criticised the central government over issues related to official accommodation previously allotted to Rahul Gandhi.
The exchange has intensified political tensions in Telangana, with opposition parties using the remarks to question the Congress government’s priorities, while Congress leaders maintain that the statement was intended to praise party loyalty and highlight the Gandhi family’s historical association with the party rather than suggest any use of public funds.
