Hyderabad | September 2, 2025-Patriotic Views

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy paid glowing tributes to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) at the YS Rajasekhara Reddy Memorial Award programme, recalling his visionary leadership and the indelible mark he left on farmers’ welfare and public life.P

Speaking on the occasion, Revanth Reddy said politics is often about power, where “friends gather around when you are in authority but disappear when power is lost.” He praised KVP Ramachandra Rao for being a constant shadow and loyal companion to YSR “from student days till death,” stressing that such loyalty is rare in contemporary politics.

The CM highlighted YSR’s farmer-centric policies, saying he worked with the conviction that agriculture is not a burden but a festival. He recalled that YSR not only signed the first order granting free power to farmers but also waived their electricity dues and cases. “The moment one hears about free electricity, YSR’s name immediately comes to mind,” he remarked.

Revanth Reddy emphasized YSR’s landmark schemes—Fee Reimbursement and Aarogyasri—saying they had become benchmarks that every government is compelled to continue. He also pointed out that under his government, inspired by YSR’s vision, free fine rice is being provided to 3.10 crore people in Telangana.

Listing his government’s initiatives, Revanth Reddy said within three months of coming to power, ₹20,617 crore worth of farm loans were waived for 25.35 lakh farmers, fulfilling a major electoral promise. He added that farmers who cultivated paddy received a ₹500 bonus per quintal and assured procurement “till the last grain.”

The CM recalled YSR’s efforts to resolve the fluoride crisis in Nalgonda through the SLBC project and to prevent drought and migration in Telangana by initiating the Pranahita-Chevella project. He assured that his government would complete the pending SLBC works, including a 30-km tunnel, to realize farmers’ long-cherished dream.

Quoting YSR’s statement that his life’s ambition was to see Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister, Revanth Reddy declared, “I and YS Sharmila will tirelessly work towards making Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister of India.”

Reflecting on his personal interactions, the CM recalled that as a first-time MLA, he had sharply criticized the government’s budget, to which YSR responded with patience in the Assembly. “YSR once said that the nerve of anger had snapped in him. Even while in power, he answered the opposition without arrogance, with calm reasoning,” he said.

Concluding his speech, Revanth Reddy stated that there can never be a replacement for YSR and KVP. “This generation has only one YSR and one KVP,” he said, lauding their qualities of sacrifice, courage, and commitment to public service.