Ranit Kr. Singh , Hyderabad – The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), a specialised task force established in July 2024 to safeguard government lands, parks, and lakes, has triggered a massive political storm in Telangana. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy sparked intense controversy during an event in Bengaluru while praising the success of the anti-encroachment project, which prominently utilises thousands of retired army officers for demolition drives. The initiative has faced sharp criticism from opposition parties who accuse the administration of targeting the properties of vulnerable citizens under the guise of urban restoration.

The political confrontation escalated rapidly as opposition leaders seized on the Chief Minister's choice of vocabulary to question the democratic credentials of the ruling Congress government. Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy publicly condemned the remarks, labeling them a reflection of a dangerous authoritarian mindset and demanding an unconditional apology to the public. Concurrently, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) fiercely attacked the administration, characterizing the Chief Minister as a modern autocrat whose aggressive policies have resulted in the mass destruction of homes belonging to impoverished residents across the state.

"The word 'HYDRAA' was inspired by Hitler's core team, which was called Hydra. Hydra, the word, is Hitler's favourite word. His core team was called Hydra, which could assassinate anyone. So, I took inspiration from Hitler and named it HYDRAA. I have demolished like anything. If you see the visuals from Iran, you can compare them with Israel or any such demolitions caused by war, and compare them with these demolitions carried out by HYDRAA," Revanth Reddy stated. Reacting to this, Kishan Reddy posted, "Revanth Reddy is now openly boasting that Hitler inspired him to create HYDRAA and is comparing demolitions in Hyderabad to those in war-torn regions."