Hyderabad: Escalating his criticism of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao on Saturday called for his resignation after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named him in a chargesheet related to the National Herald case.
Speaking to reporters, Rama Rao asserted that the ED’s decision to include the Chief Minister in its chargesheet has tarnished the state's reputation at the national level.
"We demand that Revanth Reddy quit voluntarily or Congress central leadership should make him resign to ensure an impartial probe," Rama Rao, son of BRS president and former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), said.
He said his party would also submit a representation to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma seeking the prosecution of the CM.
He also questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's silence on the matter. "Why is Rahul Gandhi not responding? One of your chief ministers, along with you, has been named in the charge sheet." Claiming that Telangana BJP leaders have remained silent on the issue, Rama Rao accused Congress and BJP of having a "tacit understanding" in the state.
He also accused the NDA government of protecting Revanth Reddy despite corruption allegations.
According to the ED chargesheet filed in the National Herald case, some Congress leaders were among those who donated funds to Young Indian and AJL under instructions from senior party functionaries, as refusing to do so would have been "damaging" for their political careers and businesses.
The charge sheet was submitted on April 9, but the court has yet to take cognisance of it.
Those named in the chargesheet for seeking donations for YI include Telangana CM and former PCC president Revanth Reddy, late Ahmed Patel and Pawan Bansal.
However, none of these leaders have been named as accused in the chargesheet.
Asked about the letter written by his sister and BRS MLC K Kavitha to KCR and her comments that KCR is surrounded by some "devils", Rama Rao said internal issues should be discussed within the party fora.
"Revanth Reddy is the devil of Telangana," he said.
There is democracy within BRS, and any leader can give suggestions to KCR either in writing or orally, he said.
"Whoever we are, whatever position we have in the party, it would be good if matters which are to be discussed internally are discussed internally. Party fora are available. The door is open to meet party president (KCR). Office bearers are there if anyone wants to meet. It applies to all. We are all party activists," Rama Rao said.
The internal differences within BRS came to the fore on Friday, with Kavitha taking exception to the letter she wrote to her father and party president KCR getting leaked.
She had also said some conspiracies are taking place in the party. KCR is like a god who is surrounded by some devils, she said.
(inputs from PTI)