Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image has begun to suffer. This has become evident in the bypoll results in four states, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said here on Monday. Addressing the concluding session of the two-day Telangana PCC workshop held near Ibrahimpatnam, Mr Singh said the Congress won in 11 Assembly segments, whereas the BJP managed to win only in seven segments.
Referring to the TRS government’s proposed 1956 nativity clause, Mr Singh said that it is not acceptable under the Constitution and law of the land. Persons irrespective of their nativity and place of birth can settle anywhere in the country, acquire properties and this right cannot be taken away by any state government, Mr Singh said.
He also said the Congress, which is wedded to principles of secularism, will resist any such move by the TRS government and asked party men to fight the issue. “You cannot divide the people and discriminate. This is a serious issue and we will not tolerate it,” he added. Expressing happiness over the two-day workshop and the deliberations, Mr Singh advised them to adhere to the resolutions passed in the meeting and rejuvenate the party in Telangana.
He said the debacle in the general elections is only a temporary phase and party men should work hard and unitedly to ensure that the Congress again comes to power to serve the people. He also appealed to the Telangana Congress leaders to concentrate on the Medak Lok Sabha bypoll and work hard to ensure victory for the party nominee and send out a message that the Congress is as strong as it was before.
Several leaders, including former Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, leaders of Opposition in the Assembly and Legislative Council — K. Jana Reddy and D. Srinivas — spoke and vowed to take on the TRS government unitedly to stage a comeback in the 2019 elections in Telangana.
