Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that TRS Government was top in the country in mistreating Dalits. He accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of repeatedly humiliating the Dalits ever since the formation of Telangana.
Addressing a massive meeting as part of Congress Praja Chaitanya Yatra in Manthani on Tuesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy supported the ongoing agitation of Dalits against the attempts to change provisions of SC, STs Atrocities (Prevention) Act. He said Congress president Rahul Gandhi has already announced his support to Dalits who are fighting for their rights. He said any change in the Act would be strongly opposed.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Telangana was among the States were Dalits and Girijans are not safe. “Like all communities, Dalits too had lot of aspirations from formation of Telangana. They too believed the promises made by KCR and expected to get three acres of land, double bed room houses and a job in their family. However, what they got was only disappointment and insult by TRS Government,” he said.
The TPCC Chief listed out various instances where Dalits were subjected to injustices and humiliation. Citing an instance, he said one Dalit youth Madhukar was brutally murdered in Manthani. However, even after one year, his second post-mortem report did not come and the culprits were still roaming free. He said Nerella incident where Dalits and BCs were subjected to third degree torture for raising voice against sand mafia is another example. He said when former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who is a Dalit and daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram, came to Sircilla and met the victims, KCR even made highly derogatory comments against her. Similarly, in Manakondur, two Dalit youths Mahankali Srinivas and Parashuram attempted suicide by setting themselves ablaze before the residence of TRS MLA Rasmai Balkishan. The youth felt humiliated over being cheated by TRS leaders who took bribe to sanction promised three acres of land. He said Tribal farmers were booked in treachery cases, arrested, chained and hand-cuffed just for seeking remunerative prices for their chilli crops.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said KCR family has no respect for Dalit leaders. He reminded that a Madiga MLA Dr. T. Rajaiah was removed from the post of Deputy Chief Minister in an unceremonious manner. He said there is no Mala or Madiga in KCR’s cabinet. “KCR will be remembered in history for expelling a Dalit MLA (Sampath Kumar) from the Telangana Assembly for an incident that never happened,” he said.
The TPCC Chief also pointed out that the TRS Government did not spend funds meant for the welfare of SCs and STs. He quoted an observation of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which said, “Spirit of the statutory provision was disregarded by not utilizing the funds allocated under Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (60%) and Tribal Sub-Plan (57%).”
He also condemned TRS Government for changing the name of Pranahita Chevella to Kaleshwaram project. “It is not about re-designing, it is about re-naming. KCR should explain why he removed the name of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar from the project.
Uttam Kumar Reddy slammed the TRS Government for forcible acquisition of land for Kaleshwaram Project. He alleged that two youth Srinivas and Chandramohan were brutally tortured by the police when they refused to part with their land for the project. “Telangana is not KCR’s Jagir. It is not about how much compensation is being paid. It is about the people’s choice whether or not to give away their lands and TRS Government has suppressed people’s fundamental rights to benefit contractors,” he said. He promised that after coming to power Congress Government will pay adequate compensation to the victims of land acquisition.
The TPCC chief also listed out various schemes that the Congress proposes to implement after coming to power in next elections. He cautioned people against the new promises being made by KCR Government. He said TRS Government did nothing for farmers for four years and in the election year, it is planning to distribute Rs. 4,000 per acre as investment subsidy. He called the new scheme as election stunt and another attempt by KCR to cheat farmers.
Earlier, Uttam Kumar Reddy and other Congress leaders were accorded a warm welcome by former minister D. Sridhar Babu. The Congress leaders reached the meeting venue in a massive and colourful rally. Braving high temperature, hundreds of Congress workers participated in the rally and meeting.
Senior leaders including Sridhar Babu, S. Jaipal Reddy, Jana Reddy, DK Aruna, Revanth Reddy, Rammohan Reddy, K. Mruthynjayam and others also addressed the meeting. (INN)