Congress promises support for SC categorisation

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has announced his party's complete support to the agitation by Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) seeking categorisation of Scheduled Castes.

Speaking in the all-party meeting organised by the MRPS at Somajiguda Press Club on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said he would also take up the issue with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He also advised that the Communist Party of India should take the initiative of taking an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. Stating that Madigas was the largest community in Telangana, he said it was the duty of all political leaders to get justice for the community.

Uttam Kumar Reddy slammed Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for not honouring the assurance given on the floor of Assembly of taking an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister on the issue. He said he was unable to understand as to why the Prime Minister was not giving appointment to meet an all-party delegation on such an important issue. "If the Prime Minister was busy in Delhi, then KCR should have arranged an all-party interaction with PM Modi during his visit to Hyderabad. They had time to spend for programmes with Ivanka Trump and inaugurate other things, but they were too busy to spend a few minutes on such a major issue like SC categorisation," he said.

The TPCC chief said that the delay on categorisation was deliberate. "KCR and Modi are one and the same. KCR blindly supported all decisions of PM Modi like demonitisation and GST. He also supported BJP candidates for the post of President and Vice President. However, when it comes to appointment on SC categorisation, the Prime Minister rejects the request. Even TRS MPs are silent on the issue and they did not raise it in Parliament. It clearly shows that they are not serious on the issue," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party has been supporting SC categorisation since beginning. He said a resolution was passed in the then united Andhra Pradesh Assembly. Later, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh constituted Justice Usha Mehra Commission which gave a favourable report. He said Congress party again supported the resolution moved in Telangana State Assembly. However, he said that the TRS Government was not showing any seriousness in resolving the issue. He also slammed the Chief Minister for mistreating MRPS chief Manda Krishna Madiga. "MRPS and Krishna Madiga have played an active role in Telangana statehood agitation. Instead of felicitating and honouring a leader like Krishna Madiga, KCR Government is putting him behind bars just to suppress his agitation for SC categorisation," he said.

The TPCC chief said that the democracy was in danger in Telangana. He said protest in any form is not being permitted by the TRS Government. "We have an arrogant CM, ignorant ministers, irresponsive administration and an irresponsible police. To whom should we complain of any atrocities or injustices?" he asked. Citing an instance, he said that the victims of Nerella incident are still waiting for justice as they could not get an FIR registered against the police personnel under SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act. He said even the case filed in a court was not listed for hearing.

The All Party meeting was also addressed by MPRS leader Krishna Madiga, Telangana BJP president Dr. K. Lakshman, Telangana TDP President L. Ramana, CPI State Secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, Balladeer Gadar, TJAC Chairman Prof. M. Kodandaram and other leaders.

TRS leaders from Ranga Reddy District join Congress

Several TRS leaders including Sarpanch of Mall village (Yacharam mandal, Ranga Reddy district), Padma, Jahangir and their followers joined the Congress party on Monday evening at a function in Gandhi Bhavan in the presence of Ranga Reddy DCC President Kayam Mallesh.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that all sections of the society have started distancing themselves from the ruling party. "TRS came to power on the basis of fake promises and now it is trying to survive on hollow claims," he said. He ridiculed the claims of IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao on the success of his Davos visit. He said all claims on investments into Telangana were fake. He said instead of spending crores of public money on his foreign trips, KTR should visit Delhi to get funds for already approved Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR).