Uttam exhorts Congress cadre to make bus yatra a success

Hyderabad : For the first time ever in the history of Congress party, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy tried to establish a direct connection with the cadre to boost their morale ahead of Praja Chaitanya Bus Yatra scheduled to begin from February 26 from Chevella. 

In sync with the directives of Congress president Rahul Gandhi for effective use of social media platforms, Uttam Kumar Reddy went live for an hour on Facebook on Saturday to interact with the party workers. The show also went on live on Uttam Kumar Reddy’s YouTube channel ‘Telangana Congress’ and their links was widely shared on WhatsApp and other social media platforms. 

The live show's concept was simple wherein the TPCC chief directly addressed the party workers briefing them about the objective of conducting bus yatra and what they should do to strengthen the party at their levels. Two telephone numbers were also given to facilitate the party workers to ask questions. 

The show began with a brief introduction by Uttam Kumar Reddy on the purpose of taking out bus yatra. He also gave info on the bus yatra’s schedule. He then started accepting questions from the live viewers. Though was show was originally planned as an interaction between Congress workers and TPCC President. But many common people expressed their grievances and also announced their support to the Congress party in next elections. 

Congress workers from various parts of Telangana asked different questions pertaining to party's preparations for next elections and other issues. Uttam Kumar Reddy concluded all the replies with an appeal for participation in the bus yatra. 

The first caller was Malla Reddy, a farmer from Manakonduru of Karimnagar district. He complained that as against the claims of providing 24-hour power supply to farm sector, electricity was being given only for nine hours. He said farmers in his area were being denied water for irrigation from SRSP while water is being diverted to Warangal and Huzurabad. 

Replying to his query, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the TRS Government was making only false claims and cheating the masses on energy situation. He said almost all States in the country, including Telangana, became power surplus due to the previous Congress-led UPA Government. He said that the next elections are expected to be held in December this year and appealed the people to vote out TRS for its failure to fulfil promises. 

Another caller, Prakash from Narayankhed, an aspirant of Sub-Inspector post, said it was essential for the Congress party to come to power to resolve the problems being faced by youth. In response, Uttam Kumar Reddy said wish Prakash good luck in his career and slammed the TRS Government for not fulfilling the vacant posts in various departments of government. He said Telangana became a reality due to the sacrifices made by the youth and students. However, even after four years, jobless youth faced only disappointment. 

Another Congress worker from Jadcherla complained of harassment by the police. Replying to the issue, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party was bound to come to power in next elections and it would not spare the employees and policemen who are violating law to harass Congress workers. While Sashikanth of Kamareddy appreciated the TPCC Chief for promising crop loan waiver up to Rs. 2 lakh, Mohammed Ankush of Qazipet advised Congress leadership to expose the failure of TRS Government in giving 12% reservation for Muslims. Another caller, Basha from Ashok Nagar in Hyderabad, wanted Congress legislators to raise the issue of unemployment in the forthcoming budget session of Assembly. 

After the end of live programme, Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that he would organise more such interactions on social media platforms with people and party workers in future.