BRS Leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy Counters Minister Seethakka’s Remarks

A political controversy has intensified in Telangana over recent remarks made by Minister Seethakka regarding alleged irregularities in the procurement of mobile phones for Anganwadi workers. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has strongly reacted, terming the Minister’s comments undemocratic and an attempt to suppress the voice of the Opposition .

BRS leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy criticised the Minister for allegedly stating that she would “ beat with a slipper ” those who level corruption allegations against her. He described the remark as highly unfortunate and unbecoming of a person holding a responsible public office, adding that such statements undermine democratic values .

He emphasised that in a democracy, the Opposition has every right to question government decisions, and attempting to silence dissent through threats is unacceptable. The BRS strongly condemned such language and warned against curbing democratic freedoms.

Reddy further stated that a Minister holding a key position in the government must conduct herself in a manner befitting her office. He cautioned that the use of such language damages not only her personal credibility but also the reputation of the government . Public representatives, he said, must learn to accept criticism gracefully rather than resorting to intimidation.

He also criticised the conduct of Congress leaders, alleging that such remarks reflect their intolerance . According to him, similar language has been used by some Ministers even during recent Assembly sessions, which is not conducive to a healthy democratic environment.

Raising a constitutional concern, he questioned whether the authority of the Assembly Speaker is limited to proceedings within the House or extends to public platforms as well, calling for clarity on the issue. He suggested that there should be accountability even in public discourse .

In this context, Ravula Sridhar Reddy demanded that Minister Seethakka issue an apology for her remarks. He asserted that there is no place for threats in a democracy and advised that allegations should either be ignored or addressed through an independent inquiry to establish the truth.

He further stated that if the government is confident that there were no irregularities in the tender process, it should act with transparency and present the facts before the public. Resorting to threats, he warned, would only deepen suspicion rather than resolve the issue.