KTR says District Collector acting like Congress worker, Telangana IAS bodies hit back

“The District Collector is working as a Congress party worker. Don’t be afraid of such people. Even Chief Minister Revanth Reddy cannot do anything to BRS. District Collectors and other officers who are working as Congress activists would be taught a good lesson when BRS returns to power,” Rao had said while addressing party workers in his home constituency.

“It is disturbing to note that it is becoming a norm to cast aspersions on public servants by persons occupying responsible public offices,” the IAS Officers’ Institute said in a statement.

The Telangana IAS Officers’ Association also expressed “deep concern and strong condemnation regarding the recent derogatory statement” by Rao.

“In an unfortunate public remark, the collector was personally targeted and belittled in a manner that undermines the dignity of the officer holding such an important position in the state’s administration and Civil Services at large. We demand that such statements are retracted and an apology for the unwarranted remarks made,” the statement said.

The Association said that Rao’s comments questioned Jha’s integrity and impartiality. “The Association calls for immediate cessation of such unfounded accusations and urges all stakeholders to engage in discourse that respects institutional integrity and the rule of law,” it said.

KTR, who was a minister when the BRS was in power, has had several run-ins with the ruling Congress since the latter stormed to power in November 2023.

Earlier this month, Rao alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s brother-in-law was awarded contracts worth over Rs 1,000 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) despite his company lacking the necessary qualifications.