Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned the TRS government denying his party permission for holding a public meeting at Sircilla on July 31.
The Telangana Congress had given a call for a "Chalo Sircilla" agitation on July 31 to protest against
the "brutal torture" of dalits and BCs in illegal custody in Nerella village of Rajanna-Sircilla district by the police. The meeting was scheduled to be addressed by the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha Meira Kumar. She is also scheduled to meet some of the affected families in Ramchandrapuram, Nerella and Jillela villages.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday, Reddy said that the Congress had applied for permission about a week ago to hold a public meeting at the Sircilla Junior College grounds on July 31. However, the police rejected the application on Friday night, and the Congress was informed about the same today at about 1 pm.
"This was done at the behest of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's office. This is nothing but an attempt to suppress the voice of the dalits and BCs who were subjected to illegal detention and torture in open violation of their human rights," he said, adding that the Congress had already moved a House Motion in the Hyderabad High Court seeking permission to hold the protest meeting.
He expressed confidence that the High Court would do justice by granting permission for the proposed meeting.
Reddy ridiculed the contention of the Rajanna-Sircilla district administration that the Sircilla Junior College grounds could not be used to hold political meetings. He pointed out that several prominent leaders including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, former Chief Ministers Marri Chenna Reddy and Y S Rajashekhar Reddy, and even present CM KCR had addressed the meetings from the same ground.
He said that the meeting was proposed to be held at 5 pm in the evening, and therefore would not disturb the college students.
He alleged that by denying permission, the Chief Minister not only wanted to suppress visibility for the inhuman incident that occurred in the constituency represented by his son K T Rama Rao, but also wanted to shield the sand mafia which was being run in connivance with KCR's family members.
He accused KCR of treating the police department as his personal property.
Congress senior leaders including ex-PCC President V Hanumantha Rao, AICC Secretary Madhu Yashki Goud, MLA J Geetha Reddy, chief spokesperson Dasoju Sravan and Karimnagar DCC President Katakam Mruthyunjayam were also present in the press conference.