When KT Rama Rao, former Telangana IT Minister and Working President of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), opened the #AskKTR hastag on Sunday afternoon, he was flooded with queries, mostly on the Intermediate results fiasco.

Since this is almost the first time that a high-ranking ruling party leader is taking questions on the issue after the bungling led to suicides of about 20 students, twitterati chose the opportunity to ask him questions on the issue.

One of them sought his response on the allegation that Rao himself was behind the tragedy.

Another person pointed out the futility of internal probe into the issue.

“Please fix accountability with board officials. No department inquiry. They exonerate each other. External disciplinary committee (need) to be engaged,” a tweep said. .

“Point taken,” replied the TRS leader.

Yet another tweep wondered why Rao is evading queries on the Intermediate results fiasco. “What clarification would you like me to give, sir? What happened is tragic and those that are responsible should be punished. I am a parent too and I can understand the pain of those that have lost their children,” Rao replied.

“I was as agonised as anyone else in our state. What happened was truly unfortunate. Now that the committee appointed by the Telangana government has submitted its report, action should be taken,” he said in another reply.

While refusing to predict the results of Assembly elections held in Andhra Pradesh, he, however, said his party would win 16 out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.

On hundreds of farmers contesting the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat (where KTR’s sister Kavitha contested), he alleged that Congress and BJP were behind the development.

Asked for his views on the 15th Finance Commission considering 2011 census for devolution, he termed it unjust to performing States.

‘Social media a saviour’

He said social media was a big saviour. “Trial by media is unfair, especially when they operate with an agenda,” he said, when asked about alleged negative publicity by the media.

The two-hour long chat on the micro-blogging site covered a wide range of topics from pollution to civic issues to queries on infrastructure and politics.

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