Uttam threatens to intensify agitation

Warangal, January 19: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has strongly condemned the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre for its failure to provide relief to common people who were hit due to demonitisation decision.

Addressing a massive protest meeting organised by Mahila Congress at Islamia Grounds of Warangal district on Thursday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said it was highly regrettable that even after 72 days, almost all sections of the society were yet to recover from the impact of demonitisation. While implementing the note ban decision on November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised normalcy within 50 days. However, people are still facing restrictions on withdrawal of their own money from banks and ATMs. He ridiculed the claims being made by some BJP leaders on decrease in the size of queues at banks and ATMs. He said a sizeable population, especially those belonging to middle and poor class, have lost their livelihood due to demonitisation and therefore, no fresh deposits were made in most of the banks accounts after November 8.

Uttam Kumar Reddy praised AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for the brave stand that he took against demonitisation. He said Rahul Gandhi has rightly described demonitisation as the biggest scam and asked the Prime Minister to reply to questions raised by the Congress leader. He said that the Prime Minister had no courage to face Rahul Gandhi.

The TPCC Chief also questioned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's blind support to the demonitisation move. He said KCR supported the note ban only to please the Prime Minister while completely neglecting the pain and agony common people were forced to go through during this period. He said farmers of Telangana were among the worst hit due to the demonitisation move. Despite a good monsoon, farmers could not take up sowing even in 50% of cropping areas due to note ban. He said that the Chief Minister tried to hide his failures by indulging in fruitless talk on 'cashless' economy while maintaining silence on victims of note ban.

Announcing that the TPCC would organise a massive dharna at Reserve Bank of India's Hyderabad branch at Saifabad on Friday, Uttam Kumar Reddy announced a list of nine major demands before the Centre. He demanded withdrawal of restrictions imposed on cash from banks; Payment of Interest of 18% on the bank balances till the restrictions are withdrawn; No services charges on cashless (digital) transactions; Supply of food ingredients at 50% cost (under Indian Food Security Act) for one year and enhancement of Support Price by 20% to the produce in this Rabi Crop.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also demanded that deposit of Rs 25,000 be made in the bank accounts of all women Below Poverty Line without any restrictions or conditions. Further, the Centre should pay higher wages by 100% and also increase the working days by 100% for one year under MGNREGA. He said minimum wages should be paid to everyone who could not find work (lost wages) from Nov 9, 2016 to March 31, 2017. He also sought relief on Sales Tax and Income Tax to small businesses by 50%. He said that the Centre should compensate Telangana State for the losses caused due to demonitisation.

The TPCC Chief announced that the Congress party would not rest unless these demands are met by the government.

The meeting was also addressed by AICC Secretary Dr. R.C. Khuntia, TPCC Mahila Congress president Nerella Sharada, Leader of Opposition in Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir and other senior leaders.

Earlier, the TPCC Chief inaugurated a photo gallery of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at Town Hall, Public Garden in Hanamkonda.