Hyderabad, June 28 (Hydnow): Calling former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao a visionary leader who put India on the path of prosperity and self-reliance through his bold economic reforms, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & Nalgonda MP Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the Congress party would celebrate Narasimha Rao’s centenary year in a befitting manner.
Speaking to media persons after attending PV Narasimha Rao’s 99th birth anniversary celebrations in Gandhi Bhavan and the official programme at PV Gyan Bhoom, Necklace Road on Sunday, Uttam Kumar Reddy informed that AICC President Sonia Gandhi has directed the party to organise Narasimha Rao’s birth centenary year at a grand scale. Therefore, a committee would be constituted to conduct various programmes as part of centenary celebrations. He said family members of Narasima Rao would be invited in all the programmes.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Narasimha Rao would be remembered for various landmark decisions which include introduction of the Land Ceiling Act. He said that the LCA empowered the government to take excess land from the rich landlords which was later distributed among the poor. He himself donated more than 500 acres of land which he inherited from his ancestors. He said Narasimha Rao was a journalist, a qualified lawyer and had command over many Indian and foreign languages. He applied all his knowledge and wisdom to serve the people in the best possible manner. As the then Education Minister, between 1968 and 1971, Narasimha Rao started government residential schools in the state and helped poor children get quality food and accommodation along with education.
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The TPCC Chief said that Narasimha Rao’s had great leadership skills and also the ability to utilise the services of experts to serve the people in a better manner. He made Dr. Manmohan Singh, an economist and former RBI Governor (who later became PM), as Finance Minister at a time when the country was witnessing an unprecedented economic slowdown. The Narasimha Rao – Manmohan Singh duo brought revolutionary economic reforms and introduced liberalisation in a highly effective manner which brought prosperity and growth in all sectors.
Reiterating the demand for Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, for Narasimha Rao, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh Assembly had passed a resolution in this regard. He announced that he would again raise this issue in the Parliament.
Recalling his association with Narasimha Rao, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the former PM was his ‘guru’ (master) as he learned a lot of things from him. “I used to have a lot of interactions with Narasimha Rao Ji on different issues while I was working in Rashtrapati Bhavan. He used to like me and I accompanied him on many foreign tours. I’m a great admirer of Narasimha Rao Ji,” he said.
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Uttam Kumar Reddy asked TRS leaders to explain their new-born love towards Narasimha Rao and clarify as to how many times they visited PV Gyan Bhoomi to pay tributes to the former PM.
The TPCC Chief announced that the Congress party would organise demonstration at all District Headquarters on June 29 (Monday) in protest against the increase in prices of petrol and diesel. He said a memorandum would be submitted to all District Collectors. He requested the Telangana Police not to stop the peaceful protest being planned on Monday and assured that all Covid-19 guidelines would be followed by the Congress leaders.
He also informed that a protest would be organised on 30th June at all Assembly and District Headquarters against the failure of the State Government in handling the Coronavirus situation. Demonstrations will be organised on 3rd July in protest against inflated electricity bills and to seek waiver of power bills for the poor for the lockdown period of two months. He said the Congress workers would hold the protest with black flags and badges. He condemned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for his unjustifiable stand on power bills.
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Uttam Kumar Reddy also demanded that journalists should be treated as frontline warriors against Coronavirus and Rs. 50 lakh ex-gratia should be paid to the family if any journalist dies due to Covid-19. (Hydnow)