Survey on KCR's popularity is farce: Uttam

Hyderabad, Oct 29 (INN): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has challenged Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to conduct survey on his popularity among students and farmers to get real results.

Addressing a massive rally in his constituency Huzurnagar on Saturday evening, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the survey which placed KCR as the most popular CM was as farce as KCR himself. He said it was highly shameful on the part of TRS leaders to celebrate the findings of a fabricated survey, when over 14 lakh students and their families and about 2.5 lakh staff of private colleges are unable to celebrate Deepawali due to non-clearance of Fee Reimbursement dues. Similarly, over 37 lakh farmers have skipped their Deepawali celebrations for the third consecutive year as State Government failed to clear crop loan waiver dues. Thousands of poor patients and their relatives are in immense pain and agony with hospitals refusing treatment under Aarogyasri due to non-payment of dues by the government. He asked whether KCR was ranked No.1 in popularity for being 'insensitive' and 'inhuman' towards poor.

Uttam Kumar Reddy advised that Telangana students, farmers and poor patients be made respondents in popularity surveys and they would tell the truth about KCR and the performance of his government. He said that the Congress party's signature campaign on Fee Reimbursement received overwhelming response and students' turnout in party meetings clearly shows that they were fed up with the TRS Government and its fake claims.

The TPCC chief alleged that KCR has turned revenue surplus Telangana into a bankrupt State with over Rs. 70,000 Crore debts in 28 months. He said contractors, who are paying kickbacks to KCR and his family, have become major recipients of State funds. He asked KCR and other TRS leaders to do a serious introspection on their behaviour and approach towards the people of Telangana. He said gimmicks like 'popularity survey' would only increase anger and resentment among people towards the State Government.

Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the Congress party would continue its agitation until State Government clear entire Fee Reimbursement, crop loan waiver scheme and Aarogyasri dues.

Earlier, Uttam Kumar Reddy led a massive rally of students. The rally and meeting was addressed by several senior leaders of Congress party.