BRS steps up statewide agitation as Congress marks 1,000 days in office

The BRS stepped up its statewide agitation for the third consecutive day, coinciding with the Congress government completing 1,000 days in office. Party leaders accused the ruling dispensation of failing to implement key election promises, including pensions, women’s assistance and farmer welfare, while staging symbolic protests across Telangana.

Hyderabad: Massive rallies, Vanta-Vaarpu programmes, road blockades and protests were held as part of the BRS “Samarabheri” statewide agitation for the third consecutive day on Friday, as the ruling Congress completed 1,000 days in office. The party leaders targeted the Congress government over non-implementation of election promises, focusing largely on women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, with the BRS demanding implementation of promised financial assistance and pension hikes.

The party has been conducting a week-long campaign from September 2 to 8, with each day devoted to specific issues and sections of society.

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At several places, BRS cadres organised “Vanta Varpu” programmes, rallies and public meetings. BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao participated in a protest in Sirpur and demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy apologise to farmers for insulting them by treating them as land encroachers by listing their legally purchased lands in the 22A prohibited lands list. He stated that the Chief Minister failed to deliver promises of hiked pensions to senior citizens, differently abled persons, single women and others, besides shelving welfare schemes like KCR Kits and Dalit Bandhu. 

“This Congress owes around Rs 66,000 to every beneficiary of Aasara pensions. We will force it to cough up the dues,” he said. 

He slammed the Chief Minister for getting his house removed from the prohibited list overnight, while forcing the genuine property owners to run around government offices for clearance and giving them sleepless nights.

Former Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy participated in the protest in Morthad of Balkonda constituency and questioned the Congress government over Six Guarantees promised to women, farmers and youth. He said the Congress government owes Rs 82,500 to each woman as it failed to implement the monthly honourarium of Rs 2,500 to each woman and another Rs 66,000 to each Aasara pension beneficiaries as part of its election promise.

In Pocharam, a protest was held at the PHC colony in Annojiguda, where the party alleged that promises including Rs 6,000 monthly pension for persons with disabilities and Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women remained unfulfilled.

In Nirmal, more than 500 women and persons with disabilities participated in the protests and voiced grievances over the alleged failure to implement election assurances. Similar programmes were held in Maldaqal in Jogulamba Gadwal district, Tirumalagiri in Suryapet and other parts of the State.

The agitation also took a strong farmers’ turn. Boath MLA Anil Jadhav led a protest at the Ichoda electricity substation, followed by a Vanta Varpu programme. He joined farmers in a symbolic protest using nooses, alleging that the government’s power policies were causing distress to the farming community. He accused the Congress government of failing to provide the promised 24-hour quality free power supply and recalled the implementation of Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima under the previous BRS government.

In Regonda, former MLA Gandra Venkataramana Reddy led a farmers’ rally carrying a 420-foot banner and demanded resolution of farmers’ problems. In Wardhannapet, former MLA Aroori Ramesh staged an unusual protest inside an SRSP canal, playing cricket, volleyball and shuttle to highlight the absence of irrigation water.

The protests were also marked by sharp symbolism. In Mahabubabad, former Minister Satyavathi Rathod and former MP Maloth Kavitha participated in a Vanta Varpu programme and a rally carrying a 420-foot flexi. The BRS accused the government of failing to implement its six guarantees and other election commitments.

In Maripeda, former Minister Redya Naik led a protest and Vanta Varpu on the Khammam-Warangal highway, alleging failure to implement the six guarantees.

In Gajwel, MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy participated in the protest, with BRS leaders targeting the government over its 1,000-day record and irrigation-related issues.

The campaign also triggered confrontations with police. In Eturunagaram, Mulugu district, police removed BRS flexis put up ahead of a protest rally, citing lack of permission, leading to tension between the cadres and police.

In Secunderabad, MLA T Padma Rao led a rally displaying banners listing the BRS’s version of the government’s “420 promises” and raised issues including pensions, women’s assistance, farmer support and jobs.

The BRS has announced that the agitation will continue through September 8, covering youth issues, fee reimbursement, the job calendar, local problems and representations to officials. The party has also announced support for protests by teachers and government employees on September 10.