Hyderabad: Laxman, a Rajya Sabha member representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has stirred controversy by alleging that the first phase of the Telangana movement saw the sacrifice of 369 lives under the then Congress government. His remarks came during the commemoration of Telangana State Formation Day, where he unfurled the national flag at the party’s state office in Nampally. Laxman emphasized BJP’s support for the Telangana movement, recalling key figures like Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, and Arun Jaitley who advocated for the cause in the Parliament.
The BJP leader’s statements took a sharp turn towards the incumbent Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, accusing him of distorting history. Laxman criticized Reddy’s alleged reference to Sonia Gandhi as a martyr during the movement and questioned his stance now as the head of the state. “How can he worship a goddess after becoming the Chief Minister?” Laxman rhetorically asked, alleging that Reddy’s government has overlooked the contributions of poets, artists, and activists in the Telangana movement.
Laxman didn’t shy away from addressing the current state of affairs in Telangana, blaming Reddy’s administration for financial mismanagement and failure to make necessary appointments. “It is not right for Revanth Reddy to claim credit for the formation of Telangana,” Laxman asserted, pointing out the state’s mounting debts due to alleged fiscal irresponsibility.
As Telangana marks another year since its formation, the political landscape remains charged with competing narratives of its genesis and the challenges facing its development.
