Congress bus yatra to reach out to people

Hyderabad: The Congress leaders on Monday took a pledge that they would not rest until the TRS government is dislodged. They called upon the people to support the Congress to achieve the actual objectives for which Telangana state was formed.

Speaking at the first public meeting of the “Praja Chaitanya Yatra” being taken up by the party at Chevella, all the leaders joined hands to fight the ruling TRS in the elections. They said they were determined to work with the single objective to bring the party to power in the next general elections to the Assembly.

The first public meeting of the bus yatra held at Chevella, 46 km from Hyderabad, has seen all the party leaders, irrespective of their groups. Former ministers, former PCC presidents, former MPs, former MLAs, former MLCs, present MLAs, MLCs and MPs have been seen on one dais at the meeting. Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin has become an added attraction for the public meeting who also vowed to fight against the ruling party.

The yatra was led by PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy with the participation of all the important leaders. He began the tour after offering prayers at Dargah-e-Yousufain in Nampally. Later, he went to Are Maisamma temple in Langar Houz where he offered special puja. He then went to Moinabad Church before proceeding to Chevella to launch the Praja Chaitanya Yatra.

Addressing a massive public meeting at Chevella, organised by former minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy and her son Karthik Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana was achieved due to the joint struggle of all sections of society. He said it was Sonia Gandhi who granted statehood for the region expecting a major change in the lives of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities. However, even after four years, there was no change in anyone's life except those of the four members of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's family. He said fifth member of KCR's family too is likely to get a Rajya Sabha ticket soon.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said Sonia Gandhi had preferred Telangana despite the fact that the party would suffer in Andhra Pradesh. He said that the Congress party could have easily won 25 Lok Sabha seats in AP if it had denied Telangana. However, Sonia Gandhi kept her word and granted statehood. But KCR has completely ruined the original dream of Telangana.

The TPCC chief said now it has become necessary to make people aware of KCR Government's policies which are badly hurting the interest of Telangana state. He said that the main intention behind taking up bus yatra was to expose the failures of TRS government in the state and prepare Congress cadre for the next elections.

Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that the Chief Minister make sufficient allocations to honour all unfulfilled promises. Speaking about Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR), he said that the previous UPA government had sanctioned the project which could have provided lakhs of jobs especially to the youth of Ranga Reddy district.

AICC secretary and in-charge of Telangana Congress affairs RC Khuntia in his speech urged the Congress workers to take the party's message to all villages. He said except for KCR family, no one gained from formation of Telangana state and the Congress party has a responsibility to expose the failures of KCR government.

Leader of opposition in the Assembly K Jana Reddy said that the party would fight unitedly against the government and would bring the party into power. He said that party workers should fight at all levels. Former captain of Indian cricket team Mohammad Azharuddin said that the state has lagged behind on many fronts after the formation under the rule of TRS government. He said that he would continue to campaign for the party.

AICC president Rahul Gandhi has asked him to work in Telangana. Azhar said that he did not know that their ancestors hailed from Mangalpalli near to Chevella. Referring to steel factory at Bayyaram and coach factory at Kazipet as promised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, party working president Bhatti Vikramarka said that the TRS government has failed to get them grounded.

Former MP V Hanumantha Rao said that there are no contenders for the Chief Minister’s post in the party and the only objective of all the leaders was to bring the party into power. He criticised that Azaharuddin was thrown away from the Hyderabad Cricket Association as he was a Muslim.

TRS leader G Vivek has sought Rs 24 crore for the cricket stadium.MLA Revanth Reddy said that now there was no need to maintain courtesies while criticising the government. He said that the Congress was ready to take on the ruling TRS wherever it opts.