CM Revanth Reddy's Hitler Remark On HYDRAA Sparks Political Row In Telangana

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has come under fire from opposition parties after remarks linking the name of the state's anti-encroachment agency, HYDRAA , to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler triggered a major political controversy.

The comments were made during a programme in Bengaluru on Saturday, where the Chief Minister spoke about the circumstances that led to the creation of HYDRAA. Revanth Reddy said widespread encroachments on lakes, drainage channels and other water bodies in and around Hyderabad had prompted the government to establish a dedicated enforcement agency.

According to the Chief Minister, the problem was no longer limited to small-scale encroachments. He alleged that several affluent individuals had occupied water bodies for private developments, including farmhouses, and diverted drainage systems into lakes, causing significant environmental damage.

Explaining the rationale behind the agency, Revanth Reddy said he decided to set up a specialised task force after witnessing the scale of encroachments affecting public resources. During his address, he also made a reference to Hitler while discussing the origin of the name HYDRAA, a statement that quickly drew sharp criticism from political rivals.

The remarks prompted strong reactions from both the BJP and the BRS, which accused the Chief Minister of invoking the name of a dictator responsible for mass atrocities.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy condemned the comments, alleging that they reflected an authoritarian mindset. In a post on social media platform X, he said it was inappropriate for a democratically elected leader to cite Hitler as an inspiration and demanded that the Chief Minister apologise to the people of Telangana. He also criticised the government's demolition drives, comparing them to heavy-handed administrative actions.

BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao also attacked the Chief Minister, describing the remarks as shocking and unacceptable. He said any attempt to associate governance with a figure such as Hitler was deeply troubling and accused the state government of adopting undemocratic methods in several of its recent actions. KTR further alleged that incidents linked to HYDRAA operations and other government initiatives reflected an increasingly aggressive style of administration.

The BRS later issued a separate statement branding Revanth Reddy as a "new Hitler" and alleging that HYDRAA's demolition campaigns had adversely affected a large number of families across the state.

The Telangana government established HYDRAA in July 2024 to safeguard lakes, government lands and other public assets from encroachments and illegal activities. Since its formation, the agency has undertaken several enforcement drives, including the demolition of unauthorised structures built on protected land and water bodies.