Telangana is not KCR's Jagir: Uttam

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (Tpcc) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's outburst against the Congress party and described his remarks as the result of frustration and fear of losing next elections.

Addressing a press conference along with other senior leaders at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Chief Minister crossed all limits to target the Congress party by spreading falsehood. He said KCR's remarks against senior leaders including former Speaker of Lok Sabha Meira Kumar, former union minister Jairam Ramesh and others were high objectionable.

The TPCC chief said KCR went to the extent of criticising Meira Kumar. "She is the daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram and a highly respected personality for her qualifications and experience. It is highly regrettable that KCR, in his arrogance, did not show any respect for a Dalit woman leader who had played a major role in Telangana formation," he said adding that the Chief Minister was trying to defend sand mafia being run by his relatives in his son KTR's constituency Sircilla.

Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that KCR tried to influence judiciary through his certain remarks on PILs against the State Government. "Can you appeal judiciary in a press conference?" he asked

Describing KCR as the most inaccessible Chief Minister in history, he said KCR does not come out of Pragati Bhavan and neither gives appointment to anyone. He did not meet even his own party MLAs. He said even TRS MLAs were fed up with the arrogant nature of KCR and his family members. "While KCR is enjoying luxury accommodation, cars and other lavish amenities, the poor SCs, BCs, STs and other weaker sections who felt insecure with his decisions, are left with no option but to approach the court seeking justice. He said people have a Constitutional right to approach a court and KCR could not suppress this right," he said.

However, he clarified that the Congress party had nothing with the petitions filed against regularisation of contract employees of energy department or dependent jobs in SCCL. He demanded that KCR should tender an unconditional apology for making a wrong and misleading statement against the Congress party. He said that the slang, language and subject which KCR used in Wednesday's press conference do not suit the stature of a Chief Minister. Even his body language and tone was full of arrogance laced with frustration, he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also ridiculed KCR's contention blaming previous Congress regime for drugs mafia. He said it was TRS Government which encouraged Pubs and Drugs Culture in Hyderabad. He said more than 50 pubs were permitted in Hyderabad by the TRS Government in the last three years.

It is highly unfortunate that the ruling TRS leaders described ST farmers, who were handcuffed and chained by the Khammam police, as rowdies. They have no respect for Tribals and they shamelessly supported the police action.

He slammed the Chief Minister for supporting third degree against Dalits and others in Sircilla. "KCR is concerned about burning of two lorries belonging to sand mafia. But he is least bothered about loss of lives of Dalits, BCs and others due to illegal movement of vehicles of sand mafia in Sircilla," he said. Dalits and BCs of Nerella were brutally tortured by the police in illegal custody. Police turned so inhuman that they gave electric shock to the private parts of victims. By supporting the actions of police and his inaction against guilty cops, KCR is giving clear indications that he was turning Telangana into a Police State.

The TPCC Chief said TRS Government was responsible for taking Telangana to top position in terms of farmers' suicides, loans and bankruptcy.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said if KCR hated Congress party, then why he took his entire family to New Delhi to get a picture with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. "KCR is sitting on Chief Minister's chair due to the Telangana granted by the Congress party," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy described KCR as the highly opportunist politician. Commenting on KCR's association with BJP, he said TRS came to power by projecting himself as a pro-Muslim leader. However, TRS supported anti-Muslim Hindutva candidate in the elections for both President and Vice-President of India. At one side KCR criticised BJP President Amit Shah. But in the same breadth, he praised Narendra Modi. "Only KCR can tell why he is so afraid of Modi," he said.

The TPCC Chief said that the Congress party was not afraid of KCR's intimidating politics. He said that the Congress was exploring legal and political steps to get justice for Dalits and others in Nerella incident. He said that the Congress party would also raise the issue in both the Houses of Parliament. He also informed that the Congress party was also preparing a report on environmental impact due to excessive and illegal sand mining in the State.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also condemned the attack on media personnel by the police while they were covering protest near Chief Minister's residence on Thursday.

Ex-PCC President Ponnala Lakshmaiah and other senior leaders including Mallu Bhatti Vikramarkara, Dr. Mallu Ravi, Dasoju Sravan, M. Anjan Kumar Yadav and others were also present.