Will quit politics, if Congress fails to win next elections: Uttam

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accepted the challenge of IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao and announced that he and his MLA wife Padmavathi Reddy would retire from politics if the Congress party did not come to power in next elections. However, he said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao must also announce that he, along with his son KTR (Minister), daughter K. Kavitha (Nizamabad MP) and nephew T. Harish Rao (minister) will retire from politics if TRS loses the elections.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that he was unconditionally accepting the challenge posed by KTR. However, he said that KCR himself should make the announcement of retirement from politics of his entire family if Congress party returns to power in Telangana as KTR was still a kid. He said that KTR's challenge only reflected his arrogance. He said that the power of arrogance has turned TRS leaders blind to the extent that they were not willing to see the sufferings of common people.

He said that the Chief Minister and his son have been drawing cheap self publicity through media management only to mislead the people. He said that no section of the society benefitted from the TRS regime during the last four years. Except for four members of just one family, no one gained from the formation of Telangana State. He said that a silent revolution was brewing in Telangana to dethrone TRS Government. He reiterated that the Congress party would win more than 70 seats in next elections, irrespective of whether they are held in December or next year.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also slammed KTR for criticsing Nehru-Gandhi family. Calling KTR a 'bacha' (child), he said that KTR was not aware about the contributions and sacrifices made by Nehru-Gandhi family for the country. He said Nehru-Gandhi family was among the richest families in the country and they donated several properties for public cause. He said Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru played the lead role in country's independence and shaped the nation after 1947 as country's first Prime Minister.

Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have laid down their lives for the country. He said while Congress president Rahul Gandhi is continuing the legacy and has been serving as member of Lok Sabha for the third term. Rahul Gandhi did not accept any post when the party was in power. On the other side, he alleged KCR family members have been acting as 'Commission Agents'. He reminded that KCR used to say that his children were settled in USA and he was not interested in politics. However, immediately after formation of Telangana, his entire family jumped into politics and instead of serving the people, they are busy looting the State.

The TPCC chief alleged that 6% commission is being taken from contractors of all projects in Telangana by the ruling party leaders.

Reacting to the personal attacks of KTR on him, Uttam Kumar Reddy said he had served the nation for a long period as the fighter pilot of Indian Air Force. He said he flew war planes and protected the country on Indo-China and Indo-Pak borders while risking his life every day. After retirement, he said he had joined politics to serve the people.

Congress senior leaders including Dr. Mallu Ravi, Akula Lalitha, Ramohan Reddy, Santosh Reddy, Vamshichand Reddy and Dr. Sravan Dasoju were also present.