Congress will win 5 States, not just three: Uttam Kumar Reddy

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party was all set to win Assembly elections in five States and not just three, as predicted in the opinion polls done by some media houses.

Addressing a massive meeting of women titled 'Mahil Garjana' organised by Congress senior leader and ex-MLA Srisailam Goud in Jeedimetla on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the opinion polls were not incomplete. He said besides winning Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Congress party would also be victorious in Mizoram and Telangana. He said that there were no doubts, whatsoever, on Congress party's victory in Telangana State. He said all surveys conducted in the recent past, especially after dissolution of Assembly, have shown a clear win for the Congress party in next polls. Therefore, he said Congress Governments would take oath in all five States on December 12. Similarly, he said Congress president Rahul Gandhi would become Prime Minister in 2019.

Speaking about injustices done with women during the last four-and-a-half years under TRS regime, Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that caretaker Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao has insulted women by not giving them any representation in the State Cabinet. "For KCR, not a single woman out of 1.90 crore women population in the State was eligible or fit to become a minister. Has he not insulted all women of Telangana? Does he have a right to seek votes from women?" he asked.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party has always respected women and took all measures to ensure their economic and political empowerment. He reminded that the previous Congress regimes have strengthened women Self Help Groups (SHGs) by giving them grants, arranging bank loans and by constructing buildings for their offices. However, TRS Government completely neglected the women SHGs. Not a single building was constructed for women SHGs and no loans or funds were arranged for them. In fact, Rs. 360 crore collected by the SHGs were misused by the TRS Government for other purposes.

Stating that the entire society would be happy if women are happy, he promised that the next Congress Government would give a grant of Rs. 1 lakh each to nearly 6 lakh SHGs benefitting nearly 72 lakh women. Similarly, Rs. 10 lakh bank loan will be arranged for each SHGs and its interest would be paid by the State Government. He also promised to revive the Abhay Hastham scheme by increasing the pension amount. He said the salary of Resources Persons in urban areas, VOAs in villages and Beemi Mitras would be increased to Rs. 10,000. He said new buildings would be constructed for women SHGs and the services of SERP employees would be regularised. He also promised that the all members of women SHGs would be given accidental and health insurance of Rs. 5 lakh each.

The TPCC Chief slammed the BJP Government at the Centre and TRS Government in Telangana for the rising prices of petrol, diesel and LPG. He promised that the Congress party, if voted to power in next elections, would provide six cylinders every year at free of cost to all White Card holders. He also promised to revive Amma Hashtam scheme to provide 9 essential commodities at subsidised rates at Fair Prices Shops. He said 7 kg of fine rice would be supplied to all card holders for Re 1 per kg. Further, he said poor Dalit and Girijan families would be given entire ration, including fine rice, at free of cost.

Uttam Kumar Reddy accused KCR of cheating the poor people on the promise of double bed room houses. He said that the next Congress Government would modify the housing scheme wherein the previous beneficiaries of Indiramma Housing scheme would be given Rs. 2 lakh to construct another room and other facilities. Further, Rs. 5 lakh would be given to those who wish to construct their house on their own plot. He said all dues of Indiramma Housing would be cleared within 100 days after coming to power. He

The TPCC president said that two lakh jobs, including one lakh in public sector, would be ensure in the first year after coming to power. The Congress Government would also give unemployment allowance of Rs. 3,000 per month to 10 lakh jobless youth. He said the Aasra Pension amount would be doubled to Rs. 2,000 for all categories of beneficiaries and pension amount for Physically Handicapped persons would be increased to Rs. 3,000. He said the eligibility age for Old Age Pension would be reduced to 58 years.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also announced that the Shetty Balija community would be included in the Backward Classes if Congress party is voted to power.

He alleged that the TRS leaders have looted the wealth of Telangana during the last four years and now they are trying to use the same ill-gotten money to lure voters. He cautioned all voters, especially women, from the cheap tactics that could be adopted by TRS to influence next elections. He said people should vote for the Congress party if they wish to secure the future of their children.

The meeting was also addressed by senior leaders including D.K. Aruna, Nerella Sharada, Srisailam Goud and other leaders.