Uttam asks KCR to explain note ban impact on Telangana

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that the demonitisation move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ruined the country's economy while pushing every citizen into crisis. He also slammed Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for supporting the note ban shattered Telangana's financial position.

Addressing a massive rally, organized by ex-minister Danam Nagender from Charminar to Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the note ban proved to be a surgical strike on small and medium businesses, traders and common man. He said no section of the society was spared and demonitisation has crippled everyone. He said that the Congress party has organised the rally to protest against the inconvenience caused to people and the indifferent attitude of government towards the sufferings of common man.

Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the Prime Minister implemented the decision of demonitisation without understanding its consequences. The decision stripped common people of their rights over their own money and they were forced to stand in long queues to withdraw their hard earned earnings. He accused Modi of derailing the country's economic growth whose pace was well set during the regime of Congress-led UPA Government.

The TPCC chief questioned Modi's silence over 50-day deadline. He said that the Prime Minister himself had promised to face any punishment if he fails to relieve people from the hardships of demonitisation within 50 days. However, he said at the end of 50-day deadline, Narendra Modi delivered a disappointing speech and did not even mention anything about lifting restrictions on withdrawals from banks and ATMs. Even after 55 days, there is no change in the situation and people are standing in long queues at banks and ATMs to withdraw cash.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also slammed the Chief Minister for supporting the demonitisation move. He accused KCR of mortgaging the interest of Telangana by extending his support to Narendra Modi's note ban move. Quoting the speech of SC Welfare Minister Jagadish Reddy in Assembly on Wednesday, he said that the State Government was blaming demonitisation for delay in clearance of Fee Reimbursement dues which would directly impact nearly 20 lakh families, including 14 lakh students. Similarly, TRS Govt is blaming demonitisation for not clearing the crop loan waiver dues. He feared that all developmental activities would come to a halt under the impact of note ban. He demanded that the Chief Minister come up with complete details of impact of demonitisation on Telangana State.

The Congress leader demanded that the Prime Minister reply to Citizen’s Charter of Demand presented by AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on demonitisation issue.

The rally was also addressed by ex-Union Ministers S. Jaipal Reddy and Balram Naik, Leader of Opposition in Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir, former PCC Presidents V. Hanumantha Rao and Ponnala Lakshmaiah, ex-MP Anjan Kumar Yadav, Mahila Congress president Nerella Sharada, Youth Congress president Anil Kumar Yadav, NSUI President B. Venkat among others.