Uttam slams KCR for supporting BJP's 'farm bills'

Speaking after hoisting the party flag on the occasion of the party's 136th Formation Day at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, Uttam Kumar condemned KCR's decision to wind up procurement centres in villages. He said that those procurement centres were established by the previous Congress regime and not by the TRS. He said it was KCR who imposed regulated farming that pushed the community into a crisis. He said that KCR's opposition to the new farm laws was fake. By stating that farmers were free to sell their produce anywhere they like, KCR is directly supporting Prime Minister Narender Modi's new farm bills. He announced that the Congress would continue its fight till farmers get justice.

Uttam Kumar recalled services of the Congress for the nation. He said that the Congress had not only brought freedom to the country from the British, but post-independence, it also played a major role in nation building.

He said many great leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and many others, had served as presidents of the party.

"When in power, the Congress framed and implemented policies to empower the poor and the downtrodden. When in opposition, it played a constructive role by opposing anti-people policies and highlighted issues concerning the common man," he said adding that no other party could ever match the credentials of Congress in people's welfare.

Uttam Kumar said that despite the emergence of hundreds of political parties across the country, Congress was still the largest party with its presence in almost every nook and corner of the country. He said that the Congress always believed in the principles of non-violence, justice, freedom and unity for all. He said that the Congress did not deviate from its ideology for electoral gains. While many parties promoted communalism, regionalism and hatred to win elections, the Congress never abandoned its policy of secularism.

The TPCC chief said that it was the Congress governments that turned India into a strong economic power. He said India used to import food grains at the time of independence. But today India is exporting food grains to more than 200 countries. He said that this credit goes to the Congress. He praised the Congress governments that had set up various public sector undertakings to create public assets worth lakhs of crores of rupees. However, he said, the present BJP government was selling away those assets to a few corporate houses.

Uttam Kumar alleged that the Centre and the TRS government in Telangana have deceived people on multiple counts. He said both the BJP and the TRS were ruling on lies and corruption. He alleged that both parties were inciting sentimental conflicts, creating hatred among different sections of the society, and using money and muscle power to win elections and stay in power. He said only the Congress party was sincere towards the eradication of poverty and implemented the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' in its letter and spirit.

"We should all be proud to be members of such a great organisation. The Congress cadre in Telangana should not be demoralised by the GHMC results. We will work hard and in a united manner win the Nagarjuna Sagar by-elections and municipal elections for Warangal and Khammam," he said.

Earlier, Uttam Kumar paid floral tributes at the statue of Late P. Janardhan Reddy, on the occasion of his death anniversary, at Khairatabad Junction.