Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy’s observation that eight hours of power supply to the farm sector would be enough triggered protests by the BRS for the second day on Wednesday, 12 July.
This, even as the grand old party organised rival protests claiming that the ruling party was distorting the Congress leader’s statement.
The day began with BRS workers “hanging” Revanth Reddy’s effigy on electric sub-stations, while leaders lashed out at the Congress leadership, claiming it had shown its true colours regarding free and round-the-clock power supply to farmers.
In the districts as well, the BRS workers organised demonstrations against the “anti-farmer” nature of the Congress and said that the state was lucky that the grand old party had bared its true intentions even before the elections.
They later set fire to Revanth Reddy’s effigies in villages.They demanded that Revanth step down as TPCC president.
Revanth, while speaking at the Telugu Association of North America conference in Philadelphia in the US, said that one hour of power supply was enough for one acre of land, and three-hour supply for those who had no more than three acres as they constituted the majority of farmers.
All in all, eight hours of power supply would meet the requirements of farmers of all categories, he said.
At Vidyut Soudha in Hyderabad, BRS MLC K Kavitha and MLA Danam Nagender took part in a demonstration demanding that Revanth Reddy tender an unconditional apology to farmers.
Kavitha, addressing the demonstrators, wondered why the Congress should object if the government provided 24 hours of power supply.
Congress counters BRS protests
Rivalling the BRS protests, the Congress also took to the streets, trying to call the regional party’s bluff.
Congress leaders have been insisting that the BRS leaders are twisting Revanth Reddy’s statement on the power supply issue.
While some leaders took part in Satyagraha Deeksha at Gandhi Bhavan to protest the disqualification of party senior leader Rahul Gandhi, others organised protests at the sub-stations in their districts where they set fire to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar’s effigy.
Telangana Congress in-charge Manikrao Thakre tweeted that after coming to power in the state, the Congress would continue to supply 24-hour power supply free of cost and that it was committed to implementing all the promises made in the farmers’ declaration.
Reacting to BRS furious against Revanth Reddy who said that 8 hours of free electricity would be enough for farmers and the protests across Telangana on Wednesday by ruling party, the TPCC chief said that BRS was spreading false information against him.
Taking to his Twitter handle, he said “Even if Kalvakuntla siblings try to target Congress on ‘three hours power’ they will not come to power for the third time”.
