Revanth Reddy at Express Adda: ‘You can win elections on divisive politics but its expiry date has come’

On Congress’s performance

We couldn’t form the government but we were successful in forming the public perception that Modi has lied to citizens for the last 10 years, that he created problems for farmers with the three farm laws, that he tried to change the Constitution and tried to do away with reservation. We exposed all these hidden agendas of Modi and made the public understand these issues. People now know the BJP’s hidden agenda. Their election agenda is different from their hidden agenda.

On lessons for the Congress from June 4

The Congress has to change its format. Our leaders are still playing a Test match. Today, we have a 20-20 format; we have to upgrade our format or otherwise redefine it. The BJP is doing hit-out or get-out politics. We are not capable of becoming that ruthless. If you want to have transactional relations, you can do everything. The BJP, its politicians, have a transactional relation. Congress politicians are not like this.

On the politics of polarisation

This is something that every politician should think about because divisive politics is not good for the country. You can win (elections) with divisive politics but taking the country forward is difficult with this kind of politics. But the BJP doesn’t care. I have been saying this for a long time and I am still saying this: Every medicine, no matter how good it is, whether it is for Covid or anything else, has an expiry date. So that expiry date has come (of divisive politics).

On whether the Congress is forced to do similar politics

No, the Congress has a national approach, national perception. From 2004 to 2014, we were in power — Rahul Gandhi was rarely seen. But from 2014 to 2024, there were three elections and even after losing in all three elections, Rahul Gandhi did not leave the field. He walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, 4,000 km in over 150 days. Did any national leader ever take such a journey to reach out to the public?

Then, (tell me) which family is trying to rob this country? After removing Rahul Gandhi from Tughlaq Road, he had no home to go to. In villages, in every corner of India, all the people, including the adivasis, were given a house by Indira Gandhi but there is no room for Indira Gandhi’s grandson to stay in. Still, there are corruption charges against the Gandhi family. They (BJP) say they have made ‘this state and that state’ an ATM. It’s the PM, not just a worker or a small politician, who is saying this. Narendra Modi himself said that the Gandhi family has made Telangana an ATM. If the Gandhi family needs money, then why did they try to become martyrs?

On the Telangana model of development The Telangana model is to give equal opportunity to everyone. The Telangana model is good governance — welfare and development. Welfare alone is not good and if you only focus on development and do no welfare, then the poor won’t get anything. So there must be a balance.

This is good governance. Sonia Gandhiji has given six guarantees on September 17, 2023.  I have given one more guarantee — the seventh guarantee. That is democracy… So, the Telangana approach is the Congress approach.

From 2004 to 2014, Sonia Gandhi was the chairperson of the UPA, Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. Narendra Modi advertised the Gujarat model across the world in those 10 years. The then Union government gave so much support to Modiji… every state, whether it was ruled by the Opposition or not… was given support for development… be it permissions, budgetary support… That is why there could be a Gujarat model.

But today, Narendra Modi, being the Prime Minister, is simply ignoring Opposition states. He is trying his level best to finish all Opposition states. Why? That is the Gujarat model… If some investment comes to Telengana… if an investor gets ready to invest in Telengana… the PMO tells them to go to Gujarat. Semiconductor… incentives kiske liye diya hua hai… He is the Prime Minister of India but Modiji is behaving like the PM of Gujarat. Because for him every investment and every approach… is Gujarat. We were in power for 10 years, but did not create any problem for Gujarat.

On the North-South debate

Why are you calling it North-South? Why can’t it be South-North? We (the South) have contributed a lot. For instance, if I pay one rupee from my state, I get 40 paisa from the Government of India. Whereas if Bihar pays one rupee, they get Rs 7.6, and Uttar Pradesh gets Rs 2.73. They are distributing it based on population. When the Government of India announced family planning, every southern state implemented it. When the Government of India has given any direction or instruction or order, being good citizens of India, we have implemented that but you are punishing us. Why? That is why when NITI Aayog came to Telangana, I told them that 50 per cent (of returns) should be on population and the other 50 per cent should be on performance.

Second, there is now a discussion on delimitation and increasing seats. Our last census was in 2011. If we take the census of 2025, then to form a Central government, it will not be necessary to ask for a vote of the South. If they want to increase up to 800-plus seats, the South is going down from 123 seats. So then our role (will become) negligible. Why will we sit in silence? We have to raise our voice when someone is taking away our right. If they try to take away our rights, then naturally the South-North argument will automatically come up.

On the issue of corporates in politics

In every place, there is no discussion on this country without Adani and Ambani, from crony capitalism to PSUs. All the navaratnas are being taken over by those people. Before Modiji became Prime Minister in 2014, I think India had 16 prime ministers. They had borrowed only Rs 55 lakh crore. In this 10-year tenure alone, Modi has borrowed Rs 133 lakh crore. Today, the Indian government has Rs 188 lakh crore debt. Of the borrowed Rs 133 lakh crore, he waived off Rs 16 lakh crore debt of a corporate company. If we waive the debt of farmers, we are questioned. They have problems if money is distributed to the poor but none over the Rs 16 lakh-crore waiver to corporates. If that amount was given to farmers, unemployed workers or women, there would have been so much prosperity.

On the BRS and the caste census

I don’t see any difference between the BJP and BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi). KTR (KT Rama Rao) has been in Delhi for two days. The anti-corruption bureau has asked permission from the Governor (to question KTR) and the file has been pending for 15 days. KCR (K Chandrasekhar Rao) has played such a role in Maharashtra, so why didn’t they field a single candidate in Maharashtra this time? To fight Maharashtra elections, it (BRS) was made a national party from a regional party. They had done a lot of campaigning in Maharashtra. Today, KCR is not even looking back (at Maharashtra). If he is against Modiji, then at least he should raise his voice to defeat Modiji in Maharashtra. Why is he not saying anything?

Regarding the question for the caste census in Telengana, you say there is a Privacy Act, by which you can’t share data but you are giving all the details to a mobile service provider. Yet when the Telangana government asked for some data, you refused to give it. Why? Is the government not trustworthy? What details am I asking you for — what is your education, your caste, the welfare schemes you are getting. If I know the exact percentage of caste, exact percentage of welfare, I can undertake good welfare measures. Rahul Gandhi said, this is an x-ray. I wanted to extend that word, this is a mega health check-up for society. If there is data, I can reach the beneficiaries. The Congress is trying to make welfare and development reach the people. With a caste census we are trying to help every person. This 3.0 caste survey is going to change everything in India. In the previous government, they have given double-bedroom houses in Telangana, two lakh houses. You go and find out — 90 per cent of BRS leaders, who have five-storey buildings, have got this welfare benefit. How will the party justify this?

We wanted to give more reservations to OBCs. This will be the game changer for the country. The Supreme Court has said time and again that when you don’t have data, how come you are giving reservation for OBCs in local bodies or in other places?

Until Modiji became chief minister, he was a forward caste. Once he became CM, he became a legally-converted OBC. Before elections, Modiji said he is an OBC and should be made the Prime Minister. If one Modiji and one OBC becomes the prime minister of this country, will the circumstances of every OBC change?

On the economic status argument against caste census

Education, employment, social, economic and caste survey — 360 degree data is necessary. If you take half, then someone will contest that it is not right because caste plays a key role in reservation. If you want to give that reservation, then the caste has to be detailed.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy

QUICK QUESTIONS

How long before we have a prime minister from the Congress?

If Nitishji, Chandrababu Naiduji want it, then we can have a prime minister from the Congress in a year.

A peaceful, high-turnout election in Kashmir, where the BJP did not win, or an election in Haryana where it won. Which was a bigger achievement for the BJP?

There are no achievements for the BJP. There are some achievements for the Congress. In Himachal Pradesh, where 95 per cent (of the population) is Hindu, the BJP played the Hindu card but the Congress defeated them. In Kashmir, they didn’t trust them. In Haryana, they won by chance.

The one thing that’s changed about the Telangana voter in the past 20 years, one thing that has stayed the same, and the one thing that will change in the next 20 years.

Telangana is known for social justice and street fights. This will remain. But change is natural and power has to transfer. Because we have given it to SC/ST first, now we are ready to give it to OBCs. In the next 10-20 years, the OBC system will be implemented in the country.

As a former member of the ABVP, when you saw the Ram temple (in Ayodhya) come up, how did you feel?

The Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam is big in Telangana. Being an ABVP worker, I felt very bad that in 11 years, Modiji, Amit bhai have never come to Telangana to see the Ram mandir, which is our pride.

The one benefit and one pain point of the split between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh?

It is a natural process, it has evolved. There is no pain in it. There are still some undecided factors. But it is not right to say something again and again. We are dictating terms to the whole world in IT and pharma sectors. If we can’t resolve our issues, then what is the use? Telangana has became a state, that is a happy thing for us.

The one thing you admire about ABVP, TDP and Congress?

ABVP, commitment to the nation; TDP, commitment to development and welfare; and Congress, social justice.

That one lesson other states and Congress units can learn from Telangana’s success?

Power sharing, profit sharing.

That one lesson the central party leadership can learn from Congress’s success in Telangana.

Caste census.

The next state that you think is likely to split.

I can’t say anything but at least three states should be made out of Uttar Pradesh. It’s long due because administration is also difficult from 80 seats. Smaller states can be empowered politically and development can also be reached.

If you were to launch an app, what would be the most unusual feature of the Telangana CM’s own app?

We have to connect with the masses. If people want to say anything, they can put it there. Genuine issues can come directly to the dashboard, which can then be addressed. Technology has developed so much. Think global, work local.

If you can pick a celebrity from north India — Amitabh Bachchan, Virat Kohli, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone — who would you pick?

None from them… Politically, people will come to see them but they will not vote. The voters are different. The mobilisers are different. Keep these celebrities in front but connect with your own voice and people will vote. For me, I am the star campaigner.

AUDIENCE QUESTIONS

Sarita Ahlawat
Managing Director & Co-founder, BotLab Dynamics

You spoke about rising Telangana and skill development. do you see startups playing a role in that? Would you treat a company differently If it worked with the previous government?

we have the T-Hub and Telangana has one of the best policies in India. Whoever wants to invest or initiate their startups, our system is there. Our IT and industries minister Sridhar Babu is known for that. The Congress has ruled the state for 50 years out of 70, so if one tries to find the roots, it would be in the Congress. We’ll look at the proposal. We won’t discriminate on the basis of which party they’ve worked with.

Y Kiron

Y Kiron
CEO & Managing Director, Suchirindia

Your brainchild, Hyderabad future city, is supposed to be a game changer for Telangana. How quickly is that going to develop? Have you planned any policy changes in the industrial and tourism sector?

today, there are four issues in my dictionary — one is future city, other is the Musi River development front, regional ring road and radial roads. These are my pet projects because Hyderabad has a good opportunity to be urbanised to get investments. We are moving towards the Musi Rejuvenation Project. We have appointed an international consultant for that and for the future city…The Congress will get another opportunity in government. I’m going to develop these within 10 years.

Leher Sethi

Leher Sethi
Director, Something Creative

The US has released data  saying there is 855 per cent increase in asylum seekers to the US from India. Second, You said the Congress should fight this election as Rahul Gandhi vs Modi. should there be a central figure? I felt Congress workers lack the passion of BJP workers.

The answer to the first question is ICE and NICE. ICE means Income Tax, CBI, ED. NICE means Narcotics, Income Tax, CBI, ED. Modiji has brought this formula and those who don’t have the power to fight against it are leaving the country… The rules of the game have changed. To defeat them, you need to have the same strength, same formula.

R Venkataraman

R Venkataraman
Professor, ICFAI Business School

Hyderabad is the IT Capital but Have we been able to attract substantial investments in sectors other than IT?

Telugu people are known for IT and pharma.Three vaccines in India are from Telangana, Hyderabad-based. Now we are focusing on tourism and infrastructure. We want to create infrastructure and we want investment in Telangana. That is why Telangana is rising. This is our slogan. This is an alternative to the Gujarat model. The Telangana model will give space to everyone. In the Gujarat model, we have to take everyone’s share and put it in Gujarat. So it’s counter to the Gujarat model.

Harsh Shrivastava

Harsh Shrivastava
Senior Advisor, Grant Thornton Bharat

What is your political message from the Congress to the youth of the country?

In the Congress party, anyone can become anything.If someone puts in the hard work, they will get opportunities. Whenever the country needs it, the Congress party will do everything. People complain that the political system is ruined. They should improve it by being a part of the system. They should take responsibility instead of blaming others. They should vote for the ideology that is good for the country. I won the elections with the help of the youth. In the last 10 months, I’ve given 50,000 government jobs. I’ve waived Rs 18,000 crore loans for farmers.