[0:00]Thank you, Chief Minister, for coming here and spending time with us. On July 25th, I believe you will be 57. November 8th. Oh, that's wrong. Oh, I got it wrong. November 8th. So, congratulations in advance. You had an interesting political trajectory, and I believe you once mentioned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that I went to school with you. College with Chandrababu Naidu, and now I work with Rahul ji. He says that's reality. Your rise in the Congress Party and in Telangana has been meteoric. You joined the party in 2017. You certainly didn't expect to become Chief Minister so soon. You are considered young and energetic and a doer. So what lies behind this? How do you How did you bring this off? My focus on politics only. From student days I was as a student, I worked with Vidyathi Parishad. Then I've entered in business. In 2006, July, I got elected as a Zilla Parishad member as independent. 2007, in June, I've got elected as MLC in local body as independent. Then I've joined with Naidu. I've worked with him 10 years. I got elected two times MLA. But you are independent also. Yes, sir. Twice, Jilla Parishad member as independent. MLC also as independent. Then I've joined with Naidu Garu in 2007. From there, 10 years I've worked with him, I got elected twice MLA. Because of state bifurcation and local conditions, I've resigned as an MLA, as a politburo member, as a party member of Telugu Desam Party. I've told Mr. Naidu, Sir, the DNA problem. Naidu Party belongs to people of Telangana thinks that that is an Andhra party. So people were expecting something bigger to fight against Chandrashekar Rao Garu. Then I've decided to resign Naidu party. That time I got many opportunities. I don't want to disclose anything. But I've decided to join Congress party because of Congress has given Telangana state. Because of Srimat Sonia Gandhi, after 60 years, our dream come true. So I wanted to work with Congress and Rahul Gandhi. That time I've told everything to Rahul Gandhi. My background is this, I've worked with this party and now I wanted to join with Congress to fight against BRS and KCR policies. From there, I got defeated in 2018 December Assembly elections. After three months, again I fought my parliament election.
[3:39]I've got elected from that parliament parliament is biggest parliament in the world. 36 lakh voters in that Malkajgiri parliament where I have got elected. From there, I got PCC President. Then, Chief Minister. So, July 4th, 2026, I'm going to complete my 20 years public life. So, from Jilla Parishad member to MLC, MLA, MP, Party President, Party Working President, Party President. Now I am representing Chief Minister of Telangana. This is what my journey. All these years, I fought for public. I am with common man. That is what my success story. I don't have any other legacy or my family is not in politics. I don't have any what do you call brand or any support. Just agriculture family. So my father was in one village you know in Telangana Police Patel, that village head. So we are agriculture family from there to have reached here. With hard work with blessings of Telangana people. So how many hours do you work a day as Chief Minister? Normally I used to work 16 to 18 hours. I don't have any other avocation, that is the biggest problem for me. If I wanted to spend some time also, I don't have any friends in other than politician. So, But you are a fan of Messi. Yes, sir. I used to play football regularly. So that was the only one where I can but I used to play in the late in the night. 10:30 to 11:30 or otherwise 10 to 11. Late in the evening, I have some group of players who are studying in ISBR or other educational institutes. They don't have much connection with politics. So nowadays I'm not getting much time to play football. But I like football, that is why I've invited Messi to Telangana. I hosted a program in Telangana to encourage youngsters in sports. Will you follow the World Cup which is coming up later? I have to I have to spend some time on that, but I have to see political wind, how it is going to take me. After Telangana was constituted in June 2014, TRS looked unbeatable because they had campaigned very militantly for this. And other parties seem to be sidelined. So the rise of the Congress Party, Resurgence of the Congress party because earlier YSR, Rajasekar Reddy looked unbeatable till the unfortunate accident happened in 2009. So you have established a certain political dominance which has come very quickly.
[6:54]As you said the 2023 December assembly victory followed by resounding triumph in the Lok Sabha election and subsequent Gram Panchayat and local body elections. So you've already said there is no special secret. You come from this background. You've had this trajectory, you work hard. And you made the right call. Yes, sir. So my point it is very simple, sir. Whoever is getting a chance to run this state, they thinks that they are rulers. My point is that I am an elected public servant. I have to serve. I have to understand what is the problem of common man. Particular youth, agriculture farmers and women. These three compositions are electoral system. So unless until you are not going to address your youth problem, that will trigger you to to take agitations. So that is how even 1969, the first phase of Telangana agitation start with employment. Even 2009 also, that was the main root cause for our agitations. So once I got opportunity to function as a Chief Minister, in government sector, there are 2 lakh vacancies are there in my state. Last 10 years in KCR, 10 years not addressed those issues. That was the burning issue. I've seen in from 2021 as a PCC president almost I've I've traveled entire state each and every assembly constituency with Pada Yatra.
[8:52]I used to meet most of the time youngsters what is in their mind what they are thinking what is their aspirations? So I've seen that hard burning. Then I've addressed that issues, many legal litigations and our Telangana Public Service Commission like UPSC. They used to sell question papers, they used to sell jobs. All inquiries were going on. Then I've decided I've cleaned the public service commission. I've appointed a retired DGP who are qualified person. Earlier used to appoint a RMP doctor as a public service commission member. Who is going to take interviews with a Group 1 officer? How it is possible? How it is possible? You are appointing a state level officer, while your qualification is RMP doctor. It is not political rehabilitation center. Where the board members are going to appoint an engineer, a doctor, a revenue officer in state cadre or any other department.
[9:59]So that is the failure of that public service commission. Then I visited UPSC, I've met UPSC chairperson and other members. I've understood how UPSC is functioning without any controversy. I've appointed I've adopted same policies to implement in my Telangana public service commission. From there, within a year, maximum 15 months, I've given 67,716 jobs in my state. Highest appointments in the country. This is not my report. This is Government of India report.
[11:55]NCRB has given 2425 in Telangana, zero farmers suicides. So now farmers are happy. All these days they fought for minimum support price. I've told my people, you produce this Paddy. Not only MSP, I'll give you per third per Quintal 500 rupees. Now I'm giving bonus. Not only MSP. All these years farmers are fighting for MSP. So now I'm giving bonus. I'm procuring everything. Government of India is not Government of India is least bothered about this procurement. Just they are announcing minimum support price, and they are not addressing that issue. But in my Telangana, paddy, maize, whatever wheat, everything I'm I'm I'm procuring. So here farmers are happy, and I'm giving Raita bharosa per acre per annum 12,000 rupees for their input subsidy. If they wanted to purchase fertilizer or anything, this is the support of their investment.
[13:10]So, so I've addressed that. And third thing, women, women empowerment.
[13:17]I have self-help groups, 67 lakh members in my state. These two years, zero rate of interest. They got bank linkage 60,000 crores. 60,000 crores today our women are enjoying with bank linkage. I'm paying that interest. Till now, I've paid 1500 crores bank interest. So, 60,000 crores money in women's hand. I've given women 1000 RTC buses. Now they have they've purchased 1000 RTC buses. They have hired to our corporation. Every month they are getting each bus 70,000 rupees. And I've given to whenever we discussed renewable energy, Adani, Ambani are big, big players. Today come and see in Telangana. I've given 1000 MW solar power plants to my women. My self-help group women are running solar power plant. So my energy department has done MoU with these women. So I've given petrol bunks. Reliance was running petrol bunks. Today my women are running petrol bunks. Today my women are running their stalls in every government institution, wherever you go in government building, that those canteens are run by my self-help group women. I've taken a policy decision. All schools maintenance I've given to my women. So women are happy with my approach. Telangana is one of the fastest growing states in India. If you look at the current state GDP, it's around 210 billion US dollars. And you have a vision called Telangana rising to make it 1 trillion US dollars by 2034. And 3 trillion dollars by 2047. How much of this growth is comes from Hyderabad, will come from Hyderabad? How much will the rest of Telangana grow because is it a urban I mean, metropolitan centric model of development? How do you propose to take this forward? Sir, my vision or otherwise my approach is rare. Rare called rural, agricultural region economy. So I've made a comprehensive policy for my state. We have outer ring road, 160 km of one ring to Hyderabad. Inside of the outer ring road is 2100 square kilometers. It is called core urban region. Core urban region economy, it is called Cure. And we are going to lay down one more regional ring road that is coming around 360 kilometers. That area is almost 10,000 square kilometers. Remaining 1 lakh square kilometers is rural area. That is rare model. Rural agricultural region economy. So we have made a comprehensive policy. Last December, 7th, 8th and 9th, I've organized a global summit. I've dedicated my policy document. Now core urban region is a service sector. Pure per urban region economy is an a manufacturing zone. Rare is agricultural zone. So I have made policies, farmers and manufacturing and service sector. So in service sector, I've taken many decisions. In that there are three, four are very important issues. One, all many industries are there. Those industries are polluting like anything my city. So I've told I've called industries all owners meeting. I've told bus, you shift to peri urban region and I want to make sure net zero. So I'm going to give you industrial land converted into multi purpose zone. They'll get benefit in terms of finance. And I've given in Telangana, whoever is going to buy EV vehicle, zero tax. So every year I'm losing almost 1500 to 2000 crore rupees for these EV vehicles. Every state is charging like anything they are increasing their taxes and everything. But in my state, I've taken a policy decision. Whoever is going to buy a EV vehicle in my state, it is zero tax. And metro expansion. Musi rejuvenation, lake restoration. So all these are nowadays flash floods or otherwise drought. We are not even 2000 feet your digging also, you are not getting water in Hyderabad. So that is why I've told my people to restore all this water harvest pit, water harvesting wells and everything. Peri urban, we are making infra trunk infrastructure to establish manufacturing unit like industries and everything. We are attracting and moreover all these years India has constructed certain areas called like colonies or financial districts, like 500 acres to or 2000 acres or 1000 acres. But I'm I'm I'm constructing a city. It is called Bharat Future City in 30,000 acres. 20 minute drive from my international airport. This is one of the best city. We are going to construct. I'm going to attract Fortune 500 companies to invest in my city. So every problem you'll get solution in my Bharat Future City. So we are planning like anything. Our state is landlocked state. We don't have any port. But I've discussed with Prime Minister and neighboring state Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. We are going to connect Machilipatnam port with 12 lane express highway including railway connectivity. So all these are we have made our plans. Almost we have got all approvals. So next few years we are going to connect everything. Road, rail, airport and port. All these four connectivities are our growth engine. So I've visited many countries. I've seen how those countries are developing. Because of their connectivity. Because of their ecosystem. Because of their knowledge hub. So I have ISB, I have Nalsar University, I have IIT, I have Triple IT, I have many educational institutes where I can produce where I can create students or working force. So I'm more focusing on my educational institutes. Recently we used to discuss AI is going to replace everything, white collar jobs are we are going to lose. We are seeing that result. So we have noticed that two years back only. Now we have initiated Skills University, Young India Skills University, India's one of the best university. Under public private partnership, it is not owned by Telangana government. My Skills University chairperson is Anand Mahindra. Mahindra Group of Company chairperson is my Skills University chairperson. Sricity, Srinivas is my vice chairperson. Apollo director, Reddy Labs, Aurobindo all these corporate CEOs are my board of directors in my Skills University. They have to decide curriculum. They have to decide to take student, they have to train, they have to give employment. So government is only facilitator. In way back 1956, we have created industrial training institute. Till date we are following same that syllabus. So they are learning diesel car mechanism like Ambassador. Where should I get Ambassador to repair? Nowadays, Audi, BMW, what not. So I've told bus, it is outdated syllabus. There is no point giving training anything. If someone wants to repair Ambassador car, he has to go to KCR farms. Why because his car is his election symbol is Ambassador. We'll get only one Ambassador in KCR farms. So I've told bus, Change it. Change everything. Now Tata is my strategic partner. Tata is spending 2100 crores in CSR funds. We are spending 2400 crores to revive my ITIs like advanced technology centers. I'm giving 14%. 86% Tata is going to they have spent. That trainers training also next 10 years they are going to maintain these 100 plus ITIs by Tata. So all these we are we are improving ourselves. We are trying to meet to our requirement. So we are we are creating jobs in blue collar. So that is why I'm not visiting US many times. I'm visiting Germany, I'm visiting Japan, I'm visiting South Korea, I'm visiting all these areas where we can find jobs, we can find solution. The white collar jobs replacement is blue collar. AI cannot create any alternate in blue collar jobs. Sam Alter have told, bus, you cannot create a political alternate. So he can create everything but he cannot create any political alternate, political executive. I don't have any threat from AI. So he cannot create any politician or elected representative. At the same time I've told I'm going to create a blue collar. People are getting much IT engineers or blue collar fellow is getting more than one IT engineer every month. So our our youngsters have to shift their focus and language. All these years our what is our strength, English is our strength. Today we need to learn German language, Japanese language, other language, South Korean language. This is where we have to improve our skills in communication. The Southern states are forging ahead compared with many other states, and that divide the gap is widening it appears. Of course, there are states like Maharashtra, Gujarat which are also attracting a lot of investment. Gujarat is not attracting investment, sir. They forced to invest in Gujarat. Only one brand ambassador is working from last 20 years. I've seen many issues. I agree. We have examples. But the question is when states are very competitive. They compete aggressively with each other offering all kinds of incentives, land free, highly incentivized.
[24:31]Yes, sir. The leader is like that. So, my point is that we are going to compete with world, not within the state. I've told many times, bus, my competitors are not Bangalore or Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat or Maharashtra. My competition with New York, Tokyo, Singapore. Why should I compare with my neighbor? When I'm aspiring something, my role models are China, Japan, Germany, South Korea. My competitors are also China, Japan, South Korea and German. I'm taking inspiration from them. I'm trying to compete with them. So my slogan is China plus one is Telangana. I'm going to create everything. Whoever wants to go to China, I'm going to replace, I'm going to create everything in my state. So my competition with only China. So why don't you visit China? I've been there about 30 years ago. I've been there 15 years back. Now I'm planning to go with my team. You see what's happening. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I wanted to learn something. I'm I I used to tell. I I don't hesitate to learn something. I used to learn even my AE Assistant Engineer also some of the time. I visit to irrigation projects and other projects. I used to discuss with my Assistant Engineer. Why because that person is going to work in the ground. The real problem he knows. If I wanted to know what is the problem or how to solve that problem, the ground person is known very well. So I'm trying to learn something from them. So it is very similar. I've visited everything except China. Next few months I'm going to stay back, I'm going to visit China for few days. Even I've joined in Harvard University you know for executive. Executive course. I was there in Harvard for 10 days. So I don't mind to learn. It's a process. So definitely I'm going to visit China. We should understand, we should adopt whatever better policies are there with human touch, we can. Now, if I could take you to the decision making process. This is not much discussed because there are people who are authoritarian who decide one man show, one woman show. How do you decide? You get inputs from your civil servants, senior people or retired civil servants? I know your media advisor Sriram very well. I think he's very very suited to this job. Because we discussed this in advance.
[27:18]And so what is the decision making process for you? You think up the ideas or you sometimes get it from others? Big ideas, I mean, the big things. It is an a mix and matches. If you take bureaucrats are very intelligent, sir. Whenever I call, I ask something, they don't say anything. Sir, sir, yes, sir. What is yes, sir? What for S? So I used to ask them. They are very intelligent. They read our mind, politician mind. Then they will give you answer, suitable to your mindset. So first we have to understand that. Now I came to know that I don't ask anything. I ask you have you seen in those that paper article or otherwise what is what about that issue, what is your have you noticed that problem? Then I will ask solution. Then I will brief. Whenever I take reviews on any subject, I allow everyone to speak out. I will write everything, whatever my officer, my Chief Secretary too. You take notes. Yes, notes. Then finally summing up I will I used to speak. I don't speak initially. If I speak something, based on that they will they will calculate and they will tell, they will their coordination will be there. With I contact.
[28:44]They'll make you happy without any result. I have noticed this my small experience. Why because from 2006 to 2023 December, I have been in opposition. I used to fight for public.
[29:15]I know what is the problem. I know what is the solution. Why because I've been in opposition, I know. So no, anyone can bluff me. It is not that easy to them. Why because I I used to meet people today also. I used to whoever is coming to my house in the morning. I used to interact with them. Small farmer or uneducated will give you a lot of information, solution with his their common sense. Common sense is biggest thing in administration. Not science or math. Common sense is the biggest thing in our administration. We have to understand what is the problem. Then automatically, if you understand your problem, that itself is 50% solution for your problem. Remaining 50%, how you are going to execute the solution? So since you have seen through them for a long period, they can also be of help. So I can understand each bureaucrat's mindset. Why because I've been in opposition. I used to read my all 150 IAS, 125 IPS, all those officers. I've been observing last 20 years, no. So So that is one of the advantage for me, sir.
