Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday cautioned media organisations against publishing unverified and defamatory reports targeting state ministers, stating that such stories damage the credibility of the government. He urged the media to seek his clarification before carrying reports against ministers and said he was always available to provide explanations.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid recent controversies following a television report alleging a relationship between a Telangana minister and a woman IAS officer, which sparked a political row. Subsequently, another media organisation published a report targeting Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka. Reacting to the developments, Revanth Reddy said ministers should not be maligned through false reporting.
Addressing a public meeting in Khammam after laying the foundation stone for development works worth ₹362 crore, Revanth Reddy highlighted key welfare initiatives of the Congress government. He said that while former chief minister N T Rama Rao introduced the ₹2-per-kg rice scheme, the present government under Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy is providing fine rice free of cost. He alleged that under the previous BRS regime, obtaining a ration card was difficult, whereas the Congress government has issued ration cards to lakhs of poor families.
The Chief Minister said the government is providing free electricity up to 200 units for the poor, expanding on welfare measures initiated earlier. He accused the previous BRS government of denying housing to the poor and said the Congress government has sanctioned 4.5 lakh Indiramma houses since coming to power.
Dismissing allegations of irregularities in Singareni Collieries, Revanth Reddy said reports of scams and coal misappropriation were false. He asserted that tenders are being awarded only to experienced agencies and that no corruption has been allowed during the past two years of Congress rule.
He also criticised former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao for failing to release the promised ₹100 crore for Bhadrachalam, stating that the present government has initiated land acquisition and would develop the temple town on the lines of Ayodhya.
Appealing to the media for restraint, Revanth Reddy said disputes among media houses should not result in defamatory reporting against ministers. He said all ministers are working in coordination and expressed confidence that the Congress government would remain in power for the next ten years.