T'gana: Top govt official touches CM KCR's feet, viral video triggers row

A video has gone viral in which Telangana state director of public health, G Srinivas Rao, is seen touching the feet of Chief Minister KCR out of respect at an event where the latter launched eight new medical colleges on Tuesday.

Hyderabad: A video of a senior health official in Telangana touching the feet of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao went viral on Wednesday, prompting the opposition BJP and Congress to find fault with the "tendency" of some officials to do such acts in the state. TV channels showed a video in which state director of public health, G Srinivas Rao, is seen touching the feet of the Chief Minister out of respect at an event where the latter launched eight new medical colleges on Tuesday.

Former BJP MLC N Ramachander Rao said the "tendency" of some officials in Telangana touching the feet of the CM "when they are in service" is not in good taste. Retired officials joining politics is understandable, he said. Talking about the health official's action, the BJP leader said a senior official had done the same earlier.

This senior official was subsequently "awarded" with an MLC post, Ramachander Rao said. "I can understand if a person is retired and then entering politics. But, in service, falling on the feet of the Chief Minister is something very disgusting," he said. Meanwhile, some Congress leaders tried to present a "pink shirt" to the health official as a protest, a party release said. The ruling TRS' party flag is pink.

The health official was not immediately available for comments. A row broke out earlier when Venkatram Reddy, who was then Collector of Siddipet district, touched the feet of the Chief Minister at an event last year. (PTI)

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