Hyderabad: Stating that democracy was in danger in Telangana, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has appealed to the people to bring the Grand Alliance to power in next Assembly elections to save democracy and its institutions.
Speaking on the occasion of launch of Telugu daily newspaper ‘Praja Paksham’ on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Telangana was passing through a tough time in its history with caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao neutralising all democratic institutions in the State. He said India remained a true democratic nation with a free press and independent judiciary till 2014. However, after coming to power Prime Minister Narender Modi and CM KCR completely changed the definition of democracy and used all means to suppress the fundamental rights like Freedom of Expression.
Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the KCR Government suppressed media and they were either lured with sops for not reporting the truth or intimidated of various consequences if they publish anything against the government. He said several media houses have been held hostage and they are forced to act as propaganda tools of ruling party. He reminded that while addressing a public meeting in Warangal, KCR had threatened to bury a news channel beneath 10 kilometre of land. TRS Government had also imposed a ban on two news channels. He said a majority of news papers and channels were still not free to report the truth.
The TPCC Chief praised senior journalist Srinivas Reddy for launching the newspaper Praja Paksham with an aim to do free and fair reporting. He hoped that the new publication would act as a true mouthpiece of common people.
He exhorted the people to join the movement against KCR family which does not believe in democracy. He alleged that KCR became the most corrupt ruler in the world in the last four years and his family openly looted the wealth of Telangana.
Reacting to the criticism by minister K. Tarakarama Rao on Rahul Gandhi, Uttam Kumar Reddy said KTR had no stature to speak anything about the Congress president. He said Rahul Gandhi has rightly pointed out that Pranahita Chevell project was redesigned as Kaleshwaram only to increase its cost from Rs. 38,000 crore to Rs. 1 lakh crore.
Praja Paksham Editor Srinivas Reddy, CPI National Secretary Sudhakar Reddy, TJS President Prof. Kodanda Ram, CPI Secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, ex-MP Aziz Pasha and other leaders were present on the occasion.
[source_without_link]NSS[/source_without_link]