Revanth Reddy alleges Modi, KCR of robbing common people

Hyderabad, December 18: Hyderabad, December 18: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & MP A. Revanth Reddy has accused the Modi Government at the Centre and the KCR Govt in the state of robbing the common people. He alleged that BJP-TRS governments have looted Rs. 32 lakh crore from common people in the last eight years.

He was addressing a massive public meeting at Chevella crossroads after completing a 10-km padayatra on Saturday. He began the padayatra after paying tributes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's statue.

Thousands of people participated in the padayatra which culminated in a public meeting at Chevella crossroads near the Indira Gandhi statue. En route, he paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and also former Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy at their statues.

Earlier in the day, Revanth Reddy and other Congress leaders offered prayers at Chilkur Balaji Temple.

Addressing the meeting, Revanth Reddy said that the padayatra was part of a nationwide Jana Jagran Abhiyan by the Congress party against the rising inflation. He said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had given a call for agitation against anti-people policies of the BJP government at the Centre and TRS government in Telangana to highlight the plight of common people due to rising inflation. He said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were also leading the agitation in different parts of the country.

The TPCC Chief announced that two TRS MPTCs Kavali Sujatha and Sattaiah have joined the Congress party in protest against the failure of BJP-TRS governments in controlling inflation.

Revanth Reddy alleged that the Modi and KCR governments have been robbing the people for the last eight years by imposing various taxes. He said that a litre of petrol used to cost Rs. 60 in 2014 under the Congress-led UPA regime. But now its price has increased to Rs. 108 per litre. "Under Congress rule, people used to buy a bag full of goods by carrying an amount in their fist. But now the situation has reversed. Under the BJP and TRS regime, people are carrying a bag full of money just to buy a handful of grains," he remarked.

"PM Modi came to power on the promise of bringing back black money stashed in Swiss Bank and distributing Rs. 15 lakh to each citizen. So far, not even 10 paise have been deposited in any account. Similarly, he had promised to give 2 crore jobs every year. So far, the BJP Govt should have given 14 crore jobs and if they are distributed in all States, Telangana should've got at least 50 lakh jobs. Nearly 18 lakh qualified youth have registered themselves with the Telangana State Public Service Commission. But none of them got the promised jobs," he said.

Revanth Reddy said that the BJP-TRS governments have looted nearly Rs. 32 lakh crore from the common people in the form of various taxes. The actual price of petrol should be Rs. 40-45 per litre. But people are being forced to pay Rs. 108. Similarly, an LPG cylinder worth Rs. 400 is being sold for over Rs. 1,000.

He said farmers have suffered due to an increase in the prices of diesel which they use to operate their tractors. He said lakhs of rupees being extorted from the people in the form of taxes were being swindled by the BJP and TRS leaders by way of commission in different projects. He said the BJP and TRS Govts were not ready to purchase the produce of farmers. He said many farmers died while waiting to dispose of their paddy in Telangana State.

He slammed CM KCR for not reducing the VAT on the prices of petrol and diesel. He said that KCR tried to downplay the rising inflation while the fact remains that not only essential commodities, but even the liquor prices have increased multifold which is paid by the people in the form of Excise Duty and other taxes.

The TPCC Chief said that the Kaleshwaram project did not benefit the farmers although CM KCR claims that the government has spent over Rs. 1 lakh crore on the project. He said injustice has been done with the people of Chevella due to redesigning of the projects. He promised that the Congress party would restore the Pranahita Chevella project when it returns to power after the next elections.

Revanth Reddy said that people who got elected on Congress ticket and defected to the ruling party should be stopped everywhere. He said people should teach a fitting lesson to all the defectors who switched loyalties for their own gains. He said CM KCR had promised to wage a war against the Modi government in New Delhi. "KCR spoke about starting a fire, but so far, he could not even raise any smoke. He is apparently resting at his farmhouse enjoying a peg," he alleged.

He announced that the Congress party would continue its agitation until the BJP-TRS governments purchased every grain produced by the paddy farmers.

Earlier, Digvijay Singh had said that the Congress party was fighting for the poor people by raising voices against the rising inflation. He said the prices of fuel and all essential commodities have increased manifold ever since BJP came to power. He alleged that Modi Govt was working only for the benefit of a few big industrialists while neglecting the welfare of common people.

Congress senior leaders Dr. Mallu Ravi, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, A. Sampath Kumar, Ram Mohan Rao, Mahesh Kumar Goud, Challa Narasimha Reddy, and others also addressed the meeting.