Veiled threat: CM Revanth Reddy says salaries may be ‘affected’ if employees don’t cooperate

In a veiled threat, CM Revanth Reddy said that non-cooperation from government employees could worsen the financial crunch, leading to even salary disbursements being ‘affected’

Hyderabad: While admitting delays in salary payments to ASHA and Anganwadi workers, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday issued a veiled threat as well, stating that non-cooperation from government employees could worsen the financial crunch, leading to even salary disbursements being ‘affected’.

At the same time, while addressing newly recruited junior and polytechnic lecturers at Ravindra Bharati, Revanth Reddy continued to blame former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for Telangana’s fiscal distress.

“With a monthly revenue of Rs.18,500 crore against required Rs.22,000 crore to fulfill all our commitments, we are deferring payments of salaries to ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and welfare schemes like Shaadi Mubarak and Kalyana Lakshmi. Basically, we are following a rotation system from one section to another to defer payments,” he said, also surprising the audience by stating that he was ready to hand over financial management to government employees. “Let them decide how to distribute funds,” he said.

There were other contradictions as well in the Chief Minister’s speech. While stressing the need to uplift government schools and reduce dropout rates, he also endorsed the Young India Skill University, run entirely by private industrialists. “We brought in Mahindra, Apollo Hospitals, and Reddy Labs as board members – they will train students, while the government acts as only a facilitator,” he said.

Revanth Reddy stated that the government was investing Rs 80,000 to RS 1 lakh per student in public schools, insisting that teachers must ensure results. Ironically, he emphasised school education at an event attended by junior lecturers and polytechnic faculty, who teach higher classes.

Also continuing his abusive language against Chandrashekhar Rao, Revanth Reddy stated that BRS leaders were talking about the former Chief Minister’s stature, but he was now on a stretcher and would soon end up in the mortuary. The derogatory language has already triggered protests from many quarters on social media, with many asking how could a Chief Minister use such language.