Congress will return to power in 2019: Uttam

Hyderabad, Sept 19 (INN): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday launched its two-day training session for party's local bodies people's representatives at KJR Gardens in Secunderabad.

The opening session of training was addressed by Puducherry CM Narayana Swamy, AICC General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, AICC Secretary R.C. Khuntia, TPCC President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Leaders of opposition K. Jana Reddy and Mohammed Ali Shabbir, TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Training programmme convener Ponnam Prabhakar and other senior leaders.

In his speech, AICC General Secretary Digivijay Singh demanded an explanation from TRS Government as to what it did from the Rs 90,000 funds which BJP chief Amit Shah claimed to have sanctioned to the Telangana Government. He asked whether KCR used those funds to buy legislators of opposition parties. He also accused the TRS Government of resorting to forcible acquisition of lands for various projects like Mallanna Sagar. He said that the State Government was suppressing the farmers' rights by denying them deserved compensation as per Land Acquisition Act, 2013. He also condemned imposition of Section 144 and other restrictions in project affected villages.

Digvijay Singh also accused the BJP Government at the Centre of creating animosity among different communities.

TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has expressed confidence that his party would come to power in Telangana State in 2019 General Elections.

"Except for the KCR family, nobody is happy in the state. People of Telangana would teach TRS a befitting lesson for the mis-governance. The countdown for fall of TRS Government has begun," Uttam Kumar Reddy said while inaugurating the two-day training camp for party's local bodies' people's representatives at KJR Gardens in Secunderabad on Monday. He said that the Congress party would return to power with a huge mandate.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttam Kumar Reddy came down heavily on the TRS Government saying that it was pursuing anti-people policies. He said that no section of the society was happy with the government's functioning. He said that the TRS Government was indulging in corruption in the name of redesigning irrigation projects.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the TRS Government was encouraging defections with the fear of losing power. He said that the prospects for Congress coming to power in the state were bright as the TRS failed in providing efficient governance in the state. "Except KCR family, all others are unhappy with the performance of State Government," he said. He also accused KCR of misusing public funds for his lavish expenditure. Citing instances, he said that the Chief Minister had purchased a luxury bus worth Rs. 5 crore which was never used.

Puducherry Chief Minister Narayana Swamy said that late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has empowered the local bodies and enacted laws to ensure directed funding to Panchayats from the Centre. However, he said that the present BJP-led NDA Government was not releasing the funds. He also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for scrapping Planning Commission. He said that the Niti Ayog, constituted by the present government, had no powers and its role was confined to make recommendations.

The Puducherry CM also alleged that the Prime Minister had stopped funds for several States. He said that the Prime Minister's announcement of packages of Rs. 1.25 lakh crore for Bihar, Rs. 1 lakh crore for Andhra Pradesh and Rs. 50,000 crore for Kerela remained on paper. He said that despite recommendations made by the 14th Finance Commission, funds were not being released to local bodies. Further, he said that schemes like 100 Smart Cities have remained non-starters. While the previous UPA Government spend Rs. 1 lakh crore per year for development of cities under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), NDA Government wants to spend Rs. 1 lakh crore on Smart Cities during five-year period.

Narayana Swamy described Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao as "younger brother" of Narendra Modi in making false promises.

The training camp began with paying of homage to the soldiers killed in Uri terror attack. The Congress leaders observed two-minute silence in honour of martyrs. Later, a resolution was also passed condemning the incident.