Sonia Gandhi granted Telangana despite political backlash: Priyanka Gandhi

MULUGU: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has said that her mother Sonia Gandhi went ahead with the plan to grant Telangana as she believed in the vision and desire of the people in the State. Speaking at Vijayabheri Yatra here on Wednesday, Priyanka said, "Congress party itself was born out of a struggle. It believed in the peoples' struggle. That's why my mother Sonia Gandhi granted Telangana despite knowing that it would face political backlash. Her vision was to ensure your bright future."

Training her guns on the ruling Telangana Government, Priyanka alleged that the remote of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Today the BRS' remote is in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sand, land, wines mafias have become common. The BRS promised a 'Bangaru Telangana' but only they became rich. Only three ministries from their family (KCR, KTR and Harish Rao) hold 18 ministries. Despite having a substantial population of backward classes, there are only are only 3 BC Ministers," Priyanka said.

Priyanka then elaborated on the vision of Congress party for Telangana and said, "The Congress has a vision and roadmap for Telangana with its six guarantees. We have already started implementing guarantees in others States that we came to power. Today in Telangana, there are 40 lakh unemployed people. The BRS had promised one job for every family but failed to do so."

Sharing the Congress party's manifesto for Telangana, Priyanka said, "We will give Rs 4,000 for the unemployed. We will form a Gulf cell for those who go and work there. Today the farmers are struggling. That is why we have decided to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for many crops. We will also waive off loans upto Rs 2 lakh for farmers. We will give per Rs 15,000 per acre to landholding and tenant farmers under the Indiramma Rythu Bharosa Scheme. Farm labourers will get Rs 12,000.

"For Scheduled Tribes we promise 18 per cent reservation and 12 per cent for Scheduled Castes. Rs 12 lakh will be given for SC, ST families under Ambedkar Abhaya Hastham Scheme. Apart from that, Rs 6 lakh along with land will be given to the poor under the Indiramma Housing Scheme. Rs 25 lakh will be given to Advasi Gram Panchayats. We will give Rs 2,500 a month to every women under Mahalakshmi Scheme along with providing LPG cylinders for Rs 500. Women who are above the age of 18 and are studying will be given an electric scooty," she informed.

Talking about Pravalika who committed suicide recently, Priyanka said, "Even after she died, questions were raised on her character. The BRS is looting the public. Even in universities like Osmania, recruitments were not done. Only private universities were encouraged so that they college huge sums as fees from you."

Priyanka also said that the Narendra Modi Government was unwilling to take up caste census despite the Congress party pushing for it. "They only talk about it during election and then forget it. Modi also sold away a lot of Central establishment like BHEL, HAL, BSNL, Railways and handed it over to his business friends."

Concluding her speech, Priyanka said, "See the development that has taken place in Congress-ruled States, compare it and vote with wisdom."

Speaking at the meeting earlier, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Revanth alleged, "Rapes, anarchy and suicides have become common in the last nine years in Telangana. Despite coming to power in the State for two terms, KCR has not fulfilled his promises and has disappointed the martyrs and the unemployed."

Asking the people to vote for Seethakka again as Mulugu MLA, Revanth said, "If the Congress party comes to power, we will give Rs 1 lakh along with 1 tola gold under the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme."