Hyderabad: Congress leaders conduct day-long 'Satyagraha'

Hyderabad: TPCC president and MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday alleged that the TRS government was using Panchayat Raj (PR) institutions and urban local bodies for "corruption." He was addressing a day-long 'satyagraha' at Indira Park organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sanghatan to highlight the neglect of PR institutions and urban local bodies and their elected representatives by the government.

The deeksha was also addressed by CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, MLAs Seethakka and Jagga Reddy, former PCC presidents V Hanumanth Rao and Ponnala Lakshmaiah, former leader of Opposition in the council Mohd.Ali Shabbir, working president Ponnam Prabhakar, AICC secretary G Chinna Reddy, former minister Dr J Geeta Reddy, sanghatan State In-charge Kiran, State convener Dr Palvai Harish, among others.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the TRS government turned the elected representatives of local bodies into symbolic entities with no say in the decision-making process. He said Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had completely crushed gram panchayats and other institutions by ending their relevance.

The TPCC leaders alleged that the government was harassing the elected representatives of Congress party, especially in rural areas. They also alleged that TRS leaders were looting the gram panchayats by taking commission from agencies for purchase of tractors, LEDs and other items. "Panchayats are being forced to purchase tractors through selective contractors. The government has been making claims of constructing Rythu Vedikas and Shamshana Vatikas, but no bills have been released so far," they said and demanded that the State government permit direct funding for Panchayat Raj institutions to ensure development in rural areas.