KTR, the former IT Minister of Telangana and working president of the BRS, found himself embroiled in controversy following a recent party meeting in Station Ghanpur. His remarks on women, made in response to Telangana Panchayat Raj and Women and Child Welfare Minister Sethakka’s comments about the state’s free bus scheme for women, sparked significant backlash.The controversy erupted when Rama Rao attempted to counter Sethakka’s earlier comments, suggesting there was no issue with women using buses for various tasks, such as peeling garlic or engaging in other activities. KTR remarked, “We have no objection to what women choose to do. We never said that peeling garlic or cleaning ginger is wrong. We just didn’t realize that buses were intended for these purposes.”
He further advocated for an increase in the number of buses and remarked, “Let entire families travel together; they can knit, weave, or even perform break dances, if they wish. All we observed was that lady passengers were fighting for seats, which wasn’t an issue when BRS was in power.”
These statements from KTR led to a significant outcry from Congress supporters, and Sethakka promptly demanded an apology. She criticized KTR, questioning, “Is this the culture your father taught you? Are women in your family engaged in break dances? Your comments reflect a lack of respect for women. It was under the BRS rule that break dances and pubs and clubs were encouraged in Hyderabad.”
The Telangana Women’s Commission took immediate action, initiating a suo motu inquiry into KTR’s remarks.As the controversy intensified, KTR swiftly addressed the issue, offering an apology. He took to X to express regret, stating that he never intended to offend his sisters and apologizing for his comments made during the party meeting.
Congress claiming credit for works done By BRS government says KTR
KT Rama Rao criticized Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for repeatedly claiming that the Congress government had provided 30,000 jobs to the youth. According to KTR, it was the BRS government that had issued the job notifications and conducted the examinations, while the Congress merely handed out the appointment letters.
KTR also highlighted concerns about the decline in Telangana’s IT exports and job opportunities, urging the Congress to make the sector a priority. He noted that in 2022, under the BRS government, Cognizant signed an agreement to establish a unit in Kokapet, promising employment for 15,000 individuals. However, KTR pointed out that the Chief Minister has claimed credit for this agreement, alleging it was made during a visit to the United States and that the unit was inaugurated under the current administration.
Similarly, KTR claimed that the Sitarama project in Khammam was executed by the KCR-led BRS government, but the Chief Minister was also taking credit for this initiative.In a recent Assembly session, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka asserted that the Congress government allocated Rs.75 crore to dig a canal, benefiting 1.25 lakh acres of land. KTR challenged this claim, urging the Congress to formalize a resolution in the Assembly to consistently spend Rs.75 crore for water projects covering 1 lakh acres.
BRS leader K T Rama Rao draws flak for comments on free travel for women in RTC buses
BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao has faced criticism for his remarks regarding the free travel scheme for women in RTC buses. During a recent party meeting, Rao’s comments about the use of free bus services for women drew significant backlash. He suggested that while the BRS government had supported various activities women might engage in while using the buses, he did not expect these services to be used for tasks like peeling garlic. His remarks were perceived as dismissive and out of touch with the needs and realities faced by women.
Critics, including Congress supporters and Minister Sethakka, condemned Rao’s comments as disrespectful and insensitive. Sethakka, in particular, demanded an apology, questioning whether such remarks reflected the values and respect for women taught by Rao’s family. The Telangana Women’s Commission has taken note of the comments and initiated an inquiry, adding to the controversy surrounding the issue.
Rao later issued an apology, stating that he did not intend to offend women and regretted his choice of words. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the treatment of women and the appropriateness of political statements regarding public services.