Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and caretaker IT Minister KT Rama Rao on Saturday lashed out at each other on Twitter.
Taking to social media, Uttam had said, "Unlike KTR, who received everything on a platter due to his father and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, I am a first-generation politician who worked hard to reach where I am. To say that KCR had any role, isn’t just blatantly false, but also childish. You and your family have positions today because Congress gave Telangana."
Hitting back, KTR tweeted, "You mean like how Rahul Gandhi received everything on a platter? I worked in the Telangana agitation for 8 years before I became a Minister. What cause did you ever fight for? To say Congress 'gave' Telangana is akin to saying the feudal Britishers 'gave' Independence to India."
Many on Twitter agreed with KTR's tweet and pointed out that Telangana was not Congress' property to 'give'.
Unlike @KTRTRS who received everything on a platter due to his father, I am a 1st generation politician who worked hard to reach where I am. To say KCR had any role isn’t just blatantly false, but also childish. You & your family have positions today bcoz @INCIndia gave Telangana
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamTPCC) September 22, 2018
You mean like how @RahulGandhi received everything on a platter? I worked in the Telangana agitation for 8 years before I became a Minister. What cause did you ever fight for?
— KTR (@KTRTRS) September 22, 2018
To say Congress “gave” Telangana is akin to saying the Feudal Britishers “gave” Independence to India https://t.co/pxGZ3W99Aq
However, this did not deter Uttam, who responded to KTR's tweet saying, "I’m a soldier who flew frontline fighter aircraft on China and Pakistan borders to protect India’s territorial integrity and ensure safety of our citizens. Now I am fighting for protecting democratic principles and freeing Telangana from a feudal, corrupt, arrogant dictatorial regime."
I’m a soldier who flew frontline fighter aircraft on China & Pakistan borders to protect India’s territorial integrity & ensure safety of our citizens; & now I am fighting for protecting democratic principles & freeing Telangana from a feudal, corrupt, arrogant dictatorial regime https://t.co/gPDmqYeW49
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamTPCC) September 22, 2018
This is not the first time that the two leaders have hit out at each other publicly. Earlier this year, Uttam Kumar announced that he and his wife and then sitting legislator Padmavathi Reddy would retire from politics if the Congress did not come to power in next elections.
However, he said that KCR must also announce that he, along with his son KTR, daughter K Kavitha (MP) and nephew T Harish Rao (caretaker Minister) should retire from politics if their party loses the elections.
Leaders of the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) have been at loggerheads ever since Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the state Assembly on September 6 to pave way for early elections. The elections are likely to be held in November or December.