Modi, KCR suppressing opposition's voice: Uttam

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of suppressing the voice of opposition parties.

He was addressing the Anti-Terrorism Day event, organised by National Solidarity Committee, to mark the 25th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Prakasam Hall in Gandhi Bhavan here on Saturday.

Referring to the remarks made by Kcr threatening to put opposition leaders in jail if they criticise the TRS Government, Uttam Kumar Reddy said such intimidating statements does not suit the stature of a person holding the post of Chief Minister. "Kcr must realise that in a democratic country, opposition parties have a right to criticise the wrong policies of the government. Further, it is the responsibility of government to answer the allegations. However, Kcr wants the opposition parties, especially the Congress leaders, to keep silent on his wrong policies. He has been cheating and misleading the people on several fronts and wants the opposition to keep mum," he said adding that the Congress party does not fear anyone and would continue to expose the TRS Government.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party was playing the role of a constructive opposition. "The issues, which were identified by us, have been appreciated by the people. We will continue to highlight the failures of TRS Government irrespective of the consequences which we might face. Kcr is turning more arrogant with each passing day and now he stoop down to the level of threatening opposition leaders of cases if they speak against him. We will prefer to stay in jail than keeping quiet on public issues," he said.

The TPCC chief also accused the BJP-led NDA Government of targeting the Congress party to cover up its failures. Recalling his personal relations with the former Prime Minister, he said that Rajiv Gandhi was a man with a vision who pioneered the Information Technology revolution. However, he said that the BJP has been trying to malign his image only to suppress his contributions for the country. "They tried to malign Rajiv Gandhi's image in the Bofors deals. But they were same Bofors guns which played a crucial role in winning the Kargil battle. BJP leaders were simply targeting Nehru-Gandhi family only to please Modi and divert people's attention from real issues," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that instead of going on so many foreign tours, Narendra Modi should have visited different States in the country. Many drought-affected States did not get the required Central assistance and Modi held review meetings at the end of drought season only to fulfill a formality.

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir, TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Rajya Sabha MPs V. Hanumantha Rao and K.V.P. Ramchander Rao, PAC chairman Dr. J. Geetha Reddy, former minister Danam Nagender, National Solidarity Committee chairman and TPCC General Secretary Sk Afzaluddin and other senior leaders also spoke.

Earlier, the Congress leaders paid floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi at his statue at Somajguda and portrait at Gandh Bhavan.