Hyderabad, March 15 The drug bust in Telangana, in which former BRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy tested positive for alleged drug consumption, has sparked a political controversy, with TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud challenging all MLAs, including opposition leader KT Rama Rao and his party legislators, to undergo a narcotics test, which the latter accepted.
MP Putta Mahesh Kumar from TDP in Andhra Pradesh and Rohith Reddy were among the six people detained here after testing positive, officials said.
Speaking to the media, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president said that Rama Rao and his team should come forward for a drug test.
He further suggested that all MLAs should undergo the test before the start of the Assembly session, which begins on Monday.
"The fact that former MLA Rohit and others tested positive for drug abuse is a serious matter. There has been a widespread problem with drugs in Telangana for ten years during the previous BRS rule. Tomorrow, the Assembly session will begin. We will call doctors. Your team and our team will undergo drug tests. Since your group is involved in this kind of activity, we have our doubts. So all of us will undergo tests," the TPCC chief said.
Goud further said that Revanth Reddy, after becoming the CM, has been taking stringent measures to prevent the drug menace in the state, and Saturday's bust was part of it.
Reacting to the TPCC chief's challenge, Rama Rao, in a post on 'X', said that he has already stated that he is ready for any test.
"I have already stated that I am ready for any test. I welcome Mahesh Kumar Goud's suggestion that public representatives from all political parties should take this test. Let's set an example," KTR said in the post.
He also warned that dragging his name into every drug case would be met with a legal notice.
Rao said that BRS condemns the use of drugs and any illegal activities. Anyone involved in using and selling drugs should be strictly punished according to the law, regardless of their political affiliation.
"Having said that, I strongly condemn the way BRS is being dragged into this highly deplorable situation. Using the drug case to settle scores with BRS is a reflection of your disgusting politics," he said.
Asserting that he is strictly against drugs and the use of illicit substances, KTR said that they turn human beings into monsters, and it is unfortunate that even people in responsible positions are resorting to their use.
Meanwhile, Congress MLC Venkat Balmoor and party cadres burned the effigy of Rao in front of the Gandhi Bhavan here.
Based on reliable information that a drug party was going on at a farmhouse in Moinabad near here, owned by Rohith Reddy, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Force, in coordination with local police teams, raided it on Saturday night.