09-05-2025
The Hindu Huddle 2025: Not against delimitation but south India should get 33% representation, says Telangana CM Revanth Reddy
The southern States in India stand to lose in the delimitation exercise initiated by the BJP government at the Centre according to Revanth Reddy, the Chief Minister of Telangana. Responding to a question by The Hindu Group's Director N. Ram at The Hindu Huddle thought conclave, the CM said the exercise appears to be a punishment for Southern States which implemented family planning.
Also Read | The Hindu Huddle 2025 Day 1 live updates
'We are fundamentally not against it but we need to know the terms of reference. If it's based on population or pro rata, the southern States would lose as they strictly implemented family planning. Instead of appreciation, they are punished for the initiative. And such a scenario would widen the gap between the southern and northern states,' Mr. Reddy said.
When asked about the solution for the issue, the CM suggested that there should be 33% seats to southern States. Taking up the case of these States, he said, 'We've been contributing a lot in terms of tax but what we get in return is much less compared to the BIMARU States. So the best solution is to give 33% seats to the south. BJP apparently wants to deny political opportunity to the south with just one policy.'
He further opined that there should be wider consultation with the stakeholders on the terms of reference and other issues.
Speaking about social justice and bold experiments and branding the caste census as a Congress party mark initiative (taken up by the BJP), he said, the survey would be an answer to the next generation over the result of welfare taken up past 70 and odd years.
'We've taken up several parameters, health, education, backwardness etc, and included all sections, SC, ST, Minority, EWS for the census across Telangana to ensure justice to the poorest of the poor. This is Telangana model and Government of India is implementing it,' he claimed.
Speaking about the liberal steps taken up in government residential schools, he said that all the residential schools, SC, ST, Minority and others, are being merged to help the students from deprivation and social isolation. 'Taking inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's Young India, I asked officials to include everyone and name the schools as Young India Residential Schools. We are allocating 25 acres to each of the school,' he stated.
He spoke at length about the farming community in Telangana, which forms 60% of population, and said Rs 21,000 crore debts cleared and another ₹18,000 crore input subsidy per annum was provided to farmers. 'Besides free power, farmers in Telangana get bonus and MSP and their paddy production was the highest in the country. My idea is to facilitate a farmer, a businessman and an employee in each family,' Mr. Revanth claimed.
Women in Telangana were given free ride in over 1,000 RTC buses. For women Self Help Groups, a host of projects, solar etc, skilling through tie ups with corporates such as Tata and entities in Japan and Singapore are in place. And there are incentives for SHGs to market their products abroad according to Mr. Revanth.
The CM said the State of Telangana could secure ₹3 lakh crore investment through Davos platform and they are being facilitated through a single window clearance system.
'There are a bunch of countries such as Taiwan where the investment is overflowing. I want to propose Telangana a preferred alternative in the world for foreign investment. Infrastructure, manufacturing and green technologies are being encouraged. And there is zero tax on electronic and other segments,' he said.
Giving details about the proposed fourth city around Hyderabad, which is planned in 30,000 acres, he said, it will cater to investments in a bouquet of sectors medical tourism, education, sports and sustainable living with zero emissions.
Telangana being land locked, the State is developing a dedicated export corridor/ highway to access Machilipatnam port in Andhra Pradesh according to him. 'We want to create the best infrastructure here to give competition to global cities such as New York,' he said.
The Hindu Huddle 2025 is presented by Sami-Sabinsa Group
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