Telangana Drought Row: Sinkaru Shivaji Targets Rahul Gandhi
Hyderabad, October 25: Political reactions have intensified after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged farmers in Telangana to postpone a crop amid the ongoing water and drought crisis. Shiv Sena (Shinde) Telangana unit president Sinkaru Shivaji responded by calling on the chief minister to negotiate with the Karnataka government for water.
Shivaji questioned the logic behind the appeal, asking how farmers would survive if they stopped working their fields. "If farmers do not go to the fields today, what will we eat? What is the alternative? You keep telling farmers not to do this and not to do that. Then how does a farmer make a living? If farmers do not farm and do not start growing crops, what will we eat?"
He asserted that Karnataka, governed by the Congress party, has no shortage of water. In his view, Reddy could arrange for water from Karnataka and supply it to the people of Telangana.
Drawing attention to DK Shivakumar, he said, "Karnataka's Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has come to Telangana many times. He has assured us in several meetings, 'We will come, we will support you, we stand with you.' Today you are the chief minister. You can ask him, and he can bring that water. You can develop Telangana's farming better, give water to farmers and make Telangana safe."
The Shiv Sena leader stressed that the authority to act lies with Reddy. "Our neighbouring state has water. You can bring it and deliver it to Telangana. Speak with Rahul Gandhi, speak with the Karnataka government, and save Telangana. If you keep making such statements, how will work continue? What will happen to farmers? What will happen to the people of Telangana? Where will those who depend on agriculture go? Revanth Reddy has to understand this. First talk to Karnataka, a Congress-ruled state, and bring the water."
Shivaji then turned his criticism toward Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. "Whoever blocks India's development can be called a traitor. Any alliance, party or leader that halts India's progress or works against the country is a traitor."
On Gandhi's meetings during foreign visits, he said, "The whole country sees Rahul Gandhi meeting traitors. The Indian public is fully aware. When the right moment arrives, be certain that the INDIA bloc will not even be able to keep the seats it currently has."
He also urged people to recognise who is genuinely contributing to India's growth and who is attempting to stall it, adding that the public understands these distinctions.
On the subject of 'vote theft', Shivaji said, "They have begun drama. Sometimes they blame vote theft, sometimes EVMs, and sometimes Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They already know they will get nothing, will not receive votes and do not have the people's affection. That is why they have created this drama. Just like a batsman who gets out hit-wicket by playing a shot onto his own stumps, Rahul Gandhi is doing exactly the same to himself."