Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president T. Jayaprakash Reddy asked BRS leader T. Harish Rao to take a delegation to the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), as suggested by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, seeking its clearance for lifting floodwaters from Godavari rather than indulging in provocative rhetoric.

Speaking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, he said the CM and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy had made it clear that the State government would implement whatever recommendations are made by the NDSA. “If you are really interested in lifting water than indulging in water politics, please convince the NDSA,” he told BRS.

Targeting BJP MP Eatala Rajender, Mr. Reddy challenged the BJP leader to persuade former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Mr. Harish Rao to accompany him to the Centre for discussions on the issue, adding that Congress Ministers were also prepared to join them.

The rhetoric of Mr. Harish Rao of giving his blood for Telangana farmers, he said, was just provocation than intent. “Mr. Harish Rao lacks courage. People have seen in the Telangana movement how he had once poured petrol on himself but searched for a match stick to immolate himself,” he said.

He alleged that the BRS had used provocation as a political culture and was responsible for the deaths of the youngsters. “How can Harish Rao blame Congress for students’ deaths during the movement when they actually committed suicide due to provocative statements of the BRS,” he asked.

Mr. Reddy demanded an apology from Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao and Mr. Harish Rao for the massive damage to the Kaleshwaram project during their regime before criticising the present government.