BRS’s KTR Vows Return to Power, Highlights Telangana’s Successes at Dallas Celebration

Dallas, USA : On the occasion of Telangana Foundation Day and the BRS Silver Jubilee, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) confidently predicted that his party would regain power in the state and that his father, K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), would once again become chief minister. Speaking before a gathering of thousands at the Dr Pepper Arena (formerly Comerica Center), KTR underscored the achievements of the KCR-led government and appealed to the non-resident Telugu community to carry Telangana’s pioneering spirit abroad and bring investments home.

Invoking the spirit of the Telangana movement, KTR recalled the 14-year struggle spearheaded by KCR. “Many dream, but few turn dreams into reality,” he said, citing KCR’s inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “In 2001, one man did not dream for himself but for four crore Telangana people,” KTR reminded the audience. Quoting KCR’s vow—“Stone me to death if I give up this movement”—he stressed, “In three years, we will be back in power and KCR will become chief minister again.”

KTR began by quoting the Sanskrit maxim “Janani Janmabhoomishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi” (Mother and motherland are greater than heaven), urging Telangana’s diaspora to excel in their fields abroad while giving back to their motherland. “You carry the fragrance of Telangana’s soil, shining thousands of miles away,” he said. “Your talent, skills, and wisdom make Telangana’s flag fly high. Salute to you—the gems of Telangana.”

Highlighting Telangana’s rapid transformation, KTR described how once-neglected Telangana has flourished into a prosperous, green, and vibrant state under KCR’s leadership. About a decade ago, the region languished due to decades of neglect under the unified Andhra Pradesh administration. “While others debated whether Telangana would ever come, KCR was planning for its future,” KTR said. “He envisioned what to do when the new state was formed. Today, these miracles are KCR’s legacy.”

Economic Achievements and Social Welfare

KTR cited concrete statistics to illustrate Telangana’s progress. “In ten years, Telangana has fed the country and shone with wealth and grains,” he said. Although Telangana accounts for just 2.5% of India’s population, the state contributes 5% to the national GDP, he noted. Between 2014 and 2024, Telangana’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew from ₹4.5 lakh crore to ₹15 lakh crore—an unprecedented 238% increase unmatched by any other state. Per capita income rose from ₹1.12 lakh in 2013–14 to ₹3.56 lakh in 2023. Multidimensional poverty declined from 13.18% in 2015–16 to 3.76% in 2023–24, reflecting a 10.42 percentage point reduction, according to NITI Aayog—another record in Indian governance.

Addressing the plight of farmers, KTR praised schemes such as Raithu Bandhu and Raithu Bima for halting farmer suicides and reversing migration. “Under KCR’s governance, migration became reverse migration,” he remarked. “These social welfare schemes set a national example.”

KTR also paid tribute to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, stating, “He shaped India’s destiny, and his legacy lives on in Telangana’s development.”

Support for Telugu Students Abroad

Turning to contemporary concerns, KTR acknowledged the challenges faced by Telugu students in the United States due to immigration policy changes during the Trump administration. “We stand by you,” he assured the students present. He announced the formation of a legal cell under the BRS to support and protect Telugu students in every way, from visa issues to legal representation. “Education is not just a ticket; it is a passport to our future,” he said. “BRS will ensure no student is left behind.”

Telangana’s Journey: From Struggle to Success

Recalling the Telangana movement, KTR recounted his childhood memories of rallies and hunger strikes demanding statehood. “I was part of the struggle, so I know the pain and the determination that went into achieving statehood,” he said. “KCR carried that torch for 14 years without wavering. Today, his dream is a living reality.”

KTR noted that the “decadal celebrations” held in Telangana earlier this year marked ten years of statehood, during which the entire state came together to celebrate. “That enthusiasm is mirrored here in Dallas today,” he said, gesturing to the audience of expatriates. “This is not just a celebration but an opportunity to honor the sacrifices of martyrs and everyone who laid their all to achieve Telangana’s statehood.”

Innovation and Governance

KTR highlighted Telangana’s commitment to innovation in governance. He explained how the state’s e-governance initiatives, such as T App Folio and MeeSeva, streamlined citizen services. “We embraced digital technology, bringing government services to citizens at the click of a button,” he said. He also mentioned the state’s support for information technology and start-ups through Hyderabad-based IT parks and incubation centers, which have attracted major global companies and created thousands of tech jobs.

“As we look ahead, our mission is not only to preserve these achievements but to build on them,” KTR said. “With energy projects, infrastructure investments, and skill development programs, we will continue to propel Telangana forward.”

Call to the Diaspora

KTR concluded by appealing to the Telangana diaspora to invest in their homeland. “Your success abroad is Telangana’s success,” he said. “Come back with your ideas, your investments, and your entrepreneurship. Together, we will write the next chapter in Telangana’s story.”

Before leaving the stage, KTR addressed the press: “Despite recent setbacks at the ballot box, our love for Telangana remains undiminished. Whether in power or in opposition, Telangana is our first priority, and India is our first commitment.”

As the event ended, the crowd cheered and applauded, many waving small Telangana flags. The evening’s festivities, featuring cultural performances and traditional cuisine, reinforced the message that far from the banks of the Musi River, the spirit of Telangana thrives across the globe.

Through his stirring oratory, KTR not only commemorated Telangana’s journey from aspiration to statehood but also galvanized the overseas community to play an active role in sustaining and extending the state’s remarkable achievements.