Congress under pressure to fulfil Telangana movement promises amid High Court observations

Telangana movement fighters have expressed concern over the Congress government’s delay in fulfilling poll promises, including jobs, pensions and house sites. Leaders met the BC Welfare Minister, who assured action, even as the High Court raised questions over uniform implementation

Hyderabad: Like other sections, will the Telangana movement martyrs and fighters be betrayed by the Congress government, or will it defy the Telangana High Court’s observations over assurances made to them?

During the 2023 Assembly elections, the Indian National Congress, in its manifesto, had promised several benefits to Telangana movement martyrs and fighters. Under the Hyderabad Youth Declaration, the Congress party had assured that martyrs of both the first and final phases of the Telangana movement would be identified and officially recognised, and a government job would be provided to one member of their family. Apart from this, it had also promised to extend a monthly honorary pension of Rs 25,000 to their mother, father, or wife.

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Similarly, Telangana movement fighters were promised that all cases registered against youth who had participated in the agitation would be withdrawn. The separate State fighters were also assured a 250 square yard house site, along with an official government identity card as a “Telangana Movement Fighter” on June 2.

It has been two years since the Congress government came to power in the State, but these promises have not been fulfilled so far. Irked by the Congress government’s negligence, a group of Telangana movement fighters led by Prof Kodandaram met BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar here on Thursday.

During the meeting, the Minister assured that the Congress government was keen on fulfilling the promises made to the fighters. “A committee will be constituted shortly to fulfil the promises made to the Telangana movement fighters,” Prabhakar said.

However, the Minister’s assurances stand in sharp contrast to the High Court’s observations on claims for benefits based on participation in the separate Telangana agitation. A writ petition was filed by a few persons who said they too had participated in the agitation and sought benefits, including allotment of a 250 square yard house site, a Rs 5 lakh grant for house construction and other benefits.

Questioning the feasibility of implementing such claims uniformly, the High Court the other day noted that many advocates across the State had participated in the separate Telangana agitation and had even contributed financially.

Accepting the petitioners’ argument would allow every participant to claim land and other benefits, the High Court had observed.