KTR Fires Back at Rahul Gandhi Over Empty Auto‑Industry Promises Made at Delhi Meet

When Rahul Gandhi stepped onto the stage at the recent Delhi automotive summit, he spoke in grand terms about the future of India’s car makers and, quite specifically, about the role Telangana could play. Within hours, K. T. Rama Rao – the finance minister of the state – was firing back, calling the remarks “empty rhetoric” that do little for the people who actually build the engines.

“We have already set up a solid ecosystem for manufacturers in Hyderabad,” KTR wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “If the Centre really wants to accelerate growth, they should back the policies we have already implemented instead of tossing out vague promises.” He added a note of sarcasm, suggesting the Union’s promises were as reliable as a “rainy day in the desert.”

Rahul’s speech highlighted the need for “more incentives, better infrastructure and a national push to make India a global auto hub.” He hinted that the central government would soon roll out a package aimed at boosting employment in the sector, with a special focus on states like Telangana that already house major production units.

For KTR, the problem isn’t the idea of incentives – it’s the execution. “We have already attracted investments from the likes of Hyundai, Nissan and even electric‑vehicle start‑ups,” he said, pointing to the state’s ambitious $10 billion auto corridor project. “What we need now is a concrete, time‑bound commitment, not another press‑release line.”

The exchange quickly turned into a larger political jab, with KTR reminding listeners that his government has, over the past two years, cut red‑tape, provided land at subsidised rates, and even introduced a separate motor‑vehicle tax slab for manufacturers. “If the Centre truly believes in Make in India, it should let states keep the wheel,” he concluded.

Rahul Gandhi’s team has not yet responded to KTR’s rebuke, but the back‑and‑forth has already lit up social media, with netizens splitting along party lines. Some applaud KTR’s “no‑nonsense” stance, while others argue that cooperation between New Delhi and state capitals is essential for any real progress.