Hyderabad: With the govt employees planning strikes over PRC, outstanding dearness allowance and pending bills, chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday said that even if they cut him into pieces, there is no money to meet their demands due to the state’s precarious financial condition.
The CM appealed to them to cooperate with the govt to develop Telangana instead of taking the path of agitation.

“Any agitation at this stage will lead to the collapse of the state economy already in crisis. CM Revanth Reddy alone does not mean the entire govt. Public representatives and nine lakh govt employees together mean the govt. We are one family. Do not drag the family prestige onto the streets. We are not rulers, but are here to serve the people who pay their taxes with which your salaries and pensions are being paid on the first of every month, and welfare schemes are being implemented. The only solution is self-discipline, hard work and commitment to serve the people. Let’s not hand over the state to a group of monkeys,” the CM said at a programme to honour police officers for their bravery.
The CM was responding to the strike declared by the joint action committee (JAC) of govt employees over their long-pending demands, including five DAs, pay revision commission, Rs 9,000 crore pending bills and reverting to old pension scheme among others. While RTC unions have threatened to go on strike from May 7, govt employees have announced a long-drawn agitation starting May 15.
“Employees’ unions have declared war. Is your fight against the people of Telangana? Unlike in the past, the people’s govt is paying salaries on the first of every month,” the CM said.
In his over 90-minute speech, the CM tried to explain that the difficulties being faced by Congress govt were due to the financial indiscipline of the previous BRS govt.
“The man responsible for this financial crisis is happily sleeping in his farmhouse. Govt employees should understand the gravity of the situation instead of resorting to strikes. The state requires Rs 22,500 crore every month to meet its basic obligations, but is able to generate only Rs 18,500 crore. Even if you cut me into pieces, I can’t raise more than Rs 18,500 crore per month, of which Rs 7,000 crore goes towards debt servicing, another Rs 7,500 crore for salaries and pensions. With the rest we are implementing welfare schemes and paying salaries to anganwadi and other workers on alternate months,” he said.
The CM asked various employees’ union leaders: “Tell me, should we stop welfare schemes? Should we raise petrol prices to Rs 200 or increase prices of essential commodities? Without increasing prices or borrowing, the govt cannot meet your new demands. Bankers are looking at state representatives as thieves when they go for borrowing discussions. No one is giving appointments to us in New Delhi fearing we would seek financial help. All this is because of the misdeeds of the previous govt. If you have any doubts, meet the finance minister or finance department officials, they will give you all the details and you suggest to us what to do. But please don’t go on strikes. Let us talk and work together to put Telangana on the path of development and make it a model in the world,” the CM said.
Revanth also explained the Congress govt’s efforts to maintain fiscal discipline since taking office in Dec 2023.
“As CM, I am entitled to fly by special aircraft, but I am travelling in regular commercial flights, that too in economy class. I have never told this. The previous govt destroyed the system by not repaying loans. We’ve borrowed Rs 1.58 lakh crore and repaid Rs 1.52 lakh crore for debt servicing. We’re trying to rebuild the system. Please cooperate and let us work together. Do not become pawns in the hands of political parties who want to destabilise this govt,” the CM said.
The CM praised the police for maintaining good law and order due to which Telangana got over Rs 2.28 lakh crore in investments.
“Strikes at this stage may stop investments in the state and youth will lose job opportunities,” he said.