Congress bus yatra will expose TRS Govt's failure: Uttam

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the proposed 'Praja Chaitanya Bus Yatra' of Congress party would expose the failures of TRS Government in the State.

Addressing the day-long convention of Telangana Pradesh Congress Seva Dal at Indira Bhavan on Thursday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that bus yatra, scheduled to be launched on February 26 at Chevella, was aimed at highlighting the failures of TRS Government and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao. He said despite completing nearly four years in power, KCR Government did not fulfil the promises that it made with the various sections of the society. He said KCR has been cheating all section with fake promises and hollow claims for the last four years. Therefore, by conducting 'Praja Chaitanya Bus Yatra', Congress wants to caution people against KCR's mind games to stay in power. He said highlighting the failures of KCR Government and its inefficiency in handling the new State would be the simple strategy of Congress party in next elections.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Seva Dal has a rich history and it was once headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He said members of Seva Dal participated in the freedom struggle as a militant group and even faced ban. He said there was a need to revive the past glory of Seva Dal. He asked all Congress workers to strengthen Seva Dal and assured that due prominence would be given to the entity by the party in allocation of tickets. He requested the members of Seva Dal to actively participate in the bus yatra programme.

The TPCC chief said that even as the next budget session is likely to start on March 12, TRS Government is not clear on the fulfilment of its major electoral promises like three acres of land for each Dalit family, 12% reservation for Muslims and STs and double bed room houses for poor. He said Dalits, STs, minorities, women, farmers, agricultural workers, students and youth had expected a better life in new State. However, TRS Government had stayed its focus on crushing people's voice and suppressing democratic norms. He said KCR Government would be remembered in history for carrying out large scale defections. He said elected representatives from Sarpanch to MPs of other parties were made to join the TRS through bribe or intimidation.

Utta Kumar Reddy also accused the Chief Minister of neglecting the entire agriculture sector. He said only KCR Government was responsible for suicide of over 4,000 farmers in the last four years. He said altogether a budget of nearly Rs. 5 lakh was presented in Telangana Assembly so far. However, not even five rupees were spent to procure agriculture produce or bail out distressed farmers. He said erratic implementation of crop loan waiver scheme created more problems for the farmers. He said lakhs of agricultural workers were put to hardship due to non-payment of NREGS payments. He said that the TRS Government, which claims Telangana to be the richest State, did not pay NREGS wages for the last fouir months. Similarly, nearly 72 lakh members of women SHGs were being denied interest-free loans, which were initiated during previous Congress regime. He said that the government also owe nearly Rs. 2,000 crore towards interest subsidy on bank loans taken by women SHGs.

The TPCC chief also slammed the KCR for not clearing fee reimbursement dues. He said young students were being forced to discontinue their higher studies in KCR's 'Bangaru Telangana' due to non-clearance of reimbursement dues for the last two years. He said except for four members of a KCR family, nearly four crore people of Telangana are suffering due to TRS misrule.

Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that the TRS Government made sufficient allocations in next budget to fulfill all its electoral promises. He said as promised all poor Dalit families should be given three acres of land. Else, he said each Dalit family should be paid Rs. 15 lakh @ Rs. 5 lakh per acre. Likewise, he said sufficient funds should be made for double bed room housing scheme and all eligible families should be extended the benefit. While welcoming increase in quota for Muslims under BC-E, he said all communities under BC A, B, C and D should also be given reservation in proportionate to their population. He said a legislation should be introduced in the next budget session for the same. He said that the Congress party has come up with Armoor Declaration promising a good package for farmers while it passed Wanaparthy Declaration promising economic empowerment of women. He also announced that hte Congress party, after coming to power, will provide a monthly allowance of Rs. 3,000 to all unemployed youth.

AICC Secretary R.C. Khuntia, in his speech, lauded the services of Seva Dal for the community and party. Unlike RSS, he said Seva Dal has done commendable service to the nation.

The meeting was also addressed by Rajya Sabha MP A.K. Khan, TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarkar, Leader of Opposition in Council Shabbir Ali, former MP V. Hanumantha Rao, MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, Seva Dal chairman K. Janardhan Reddy and other leaders.