Congress Wants Official Sonia Birthday Celebrations

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) on Tuesday demanded that the State Government officially celebrate the birthday of AICC President Sonia Gandhi.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of Sonia Gandhi's birthday celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan, TPCC President Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the Telangana State would not have come into existence without the firm resolve of the Congress president.

Therefore, as a mark of respect and gratitude, the State Government should officially celebrate her birthday on a grand scale, he said.

He stated that it was Sonia Gandhi who had decided in favour of Telangana in 2009 itself, although it took four years to bring about a consensus.

Despite strong opposition and the threat of political extinction in the Seemandhra region, Gandhi decided in favour of the formation of Telangana, he claimed.

Ponnala also claimed that it was the Congress party which coined the slogan of "Bangaru Telangana" before the general elections. However, the TRS not only tried to take the entire credit for the formation of Telangana, but also hijacked the slogan.

He demanded that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao fulfill all the promises that he had made to the people before the elections.

Earlier, Ponnala hoisted the Party's flag in the Gandhi Bhavan premises, and also inaugurated a blood donation camp.

Farming tools were also distributed among farmers during the Rythu Sadassu held in the Congress headquarters, which was adorned with banners and flags depicting Sonia Gandhi as the "Telangana Thalli".

Interestingly, many top leaders including the Leader of the Opposition K Jana Reddy and CLP leader in the Legislative Council D Srinivas did not attend the celebrations.

Those who participated in the celebrations included MLCs Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy and M S Prabhakar, former MPs G Vivek and M Anjan Kumar Yadav, and former ministers Danam Nagender and D Sudheer Babu.

Speaking on the occasion, Ponguleti demanded that the entire history of the Telangana agitation be made part of the school syllabus in the State. (INN)