Konda Surekha: RR blackmailed Congress high command

Telangana Minister for Forest, Environment and Endowment, Konda Surekha, on Thursday strongly condemned her removal from the Cabinet and accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of blackmailing the Congress high command.

Reacting to the decision by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to drop her from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, she termed it as ‘vindictive action’.

She said the action was taken without seeking a clarification from her.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, a recommendation to this effect has already been sent to the Governor.

She said a letter was sent to the Governor without letterhead and signature. Surekha said she was removed from Cabinet without assigning any reason.

Claiming that the high command had no intention to drop her from Cabinet, Surekha alleged that Revanth Reddy blackmailed the high command by warning that if she was not sacked, he would leave the party.

She claimed that Revanth Reddy’s brothers, minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, MP Vem Narender Reddy and former TDP leaders together targeted her and her former OSD Sumanth.

Surekha said she was deliberately targeted, though many leaders who were involved in indiscipline faced no action.

Surekha said senior leaders like Mallu Ravi and Jaipal Reddy abused Indira Gandhi, but they enjoyed all the posts.

Claiming that other ministers and MLAs are not happy, she remarked that if today it’s my turn, it may be your turn tomorrow. She asked them to come out and open up and talk about it.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi advised women and young girls to talk fearlessly, and my daughter did this only, she said, while referring to the remarks made by her daughter Sushmitha against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, which finally led to her removal from the Cabinet.

She reiterated that she can be held accountable for the remarks made by her daughter, who is married and independent. She said there was no need for her to condemn remarks made by her daughter.

Stating that she has no right to question her daughter over the remarks, Surekha released to the media copies of the letter she sent to the top party leaders, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others.

The Congress leader from Warangal district said she will not ask the high command to take back its decision but advised the party to do the course correction ahead of elections to municipal corporations.

Surekha alleged that her powers as the minister were curtailed with interference in her department by MLA Kadiyam Srihari.

Surekha said she was happy that, because of her, three women from backward classes secured positions.

She was referring to the appointment of Gadwal Vijayalakshmi as Vice Chairperson of Telangana Planning Board, Nerella Sharada as Chairperson, Telangana State Commission and G. Sudha Rani as Chairperson, Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA).

Surekha said it was inappropriate to remove Dr G. Chinna Reddy as the Vice Chairperson of the Telangana Planning Board because of her.