Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 18 : Speaking at the 375th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud Maharaj in Hyderabad today, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that the Congress will thwart all the attempts being made by some political parties for vote theft to win the elections in Telangana.
The CM called upon all to join the fight against vote theft.
Stating that he, along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, will participate in the Padayatra in support of Rahul Gandhi's fight against vote theft, the CM said that the Election Commission registered one crore votes in Maharashtra in 4 months, and it helped the BJP to come to power in the state from the vote theft.
CM Revanth Reddy took a strong exception to the Election Commission for asking an affidavit from Rahul Gandhi instead of taking action against those responsible for the vote theft scam. He said, "It was Rahul Gandhi who exposed vote theft in Bihar, where 65 lakh votes were deleted before the Assembly elections."
Affirming the People's Government will fulfil the aspirations of the Backward Class community, the chief minister criticised PM Modi and Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy for obstructing the implementation of 42 per cent BC quota in education, employment and political opportunities to the backwards communities.
The Chief Minister questioned the Union Government for opposing the BC quota in the guise of Muslim. The CM dared the BJP to scrap the Muslim quota in BCs in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Clarifying that there is no mention of religious-based quota, the CM said that the Panchayat Raj Act enacted during KCR rule was a curse to the BC community.
CM Revanth Reddy said that the Congress government conducted the Caste census with a commitment and fulfilled the promise made by Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Telangana. The census report disclosed that the BCs constituted 56.33 per cent of the total population in the state.
"We enacted two separate laws providing a 42 per cent BC quota in education, employment and politics and sent the bills to the centre for approval", the CM said that the bills are still pending before the centre. The ordinance forwarded by the Governor was also pending at the centre.
Demanding the union government for the approval of the bills, the CM said that Congress held a big dharna in Delhi but the centre fell on deaf ears for the last 5 months. "Why did the BJP and BRS stay away from participating in the dharna on the BC quota. Is it Union Minister of Coal G Kishan Reddy or Prime Minister Modi blocking BC reservations?" the CM asked.
The Congress government took the responsibility of providing quality education and jobs to BCs, the CM said, appealing to the community to pursue higher education and become part of the rulers. The CM emphasised that weaker sections will be empowered only when they get power.
Moreover, the CM recalled the heroic fight and services rendered by Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud for BCs' empowerment by establishing the BC Province. CM Revanth Reddy alleged that the previous government conspired to destroy the famous Khilashapur Fort in the name of mining. "We visited the fort and announced the development of the famous fort as a big tourist destination," the CM said.
Recognising Papanna Goud's services, the state government is installing the statue of the prominent BC leader near the state Secretariat, the Chief Minister said that the statues of famous personalities are not meant to organise death and birth anniversaries, but to take forward their aspirations and inspire future generations.