Stating that it was a rare occasion to the public representatives of the nation to create history by casting their vote to her, UPA presidential candidate Meira Kumar has said that they have their strategies to get the votes of ruling party’s public representatives across the nation and refused to reveal them. She asked the public representatives to cast their votes following their inner voice.
Meira Kumar arrived here in the morning and the Congress leaders from Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh States welcomed her on grand note. Former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and party leaders R C Kuntia, Koppula Raju and others accompanied her. After reaching Gandhi Bhavan, Meira Kumar addressed the full packed media. She expressed concern over the present NDA government’s attitude as it was deciding as to what to eat and what to speak and said that the Congress party would wage movement to protect the freedom of expression
Describing her candidature in Presidential elections as she was contesting the elections only for the ideals, Meira Kumar said that she has 17 political parties’ support and thanked them on the occasion. She said that she addressed letters to all Opposition parties, including the MIM and TRS. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was not available to respond on her phone call though she tried to talk to him, she told. She said the creation of separate Telangana State was happened when she was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The then UPA government accorded separate Telangana State only to fulfill the aspirations of Telangana people.
Stressing that there was a need to protect the values, philosophy and ideals in the nation, Meira Kumar said, “She was not alone. I have more support. I am fighting for the sake of freedom of expression. I am contesting in presidential elections for the sake of ideals. I have confidence that I will win the election”, she stated.
Responding to a question, Meira said it was sad to discuss about Dalit (Meira Kumar) versus Dalit (Ramnath Kovind). She said there was a need to cast the votes to her irrespective of political affiliation though she was a Congress-led UPA candidate. She said the condition of the Dalits in the nation was in danger and there was a need to protect them and the Congress would stand by them and hence every public representative of the nation has to cast their vote following their conscience.
Earlier, TPCC Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy welcomed her arrival to the Telangana State. Stating that Meira Kumar played a pivotal role in passing the Telangana Bill in Lok Sabha after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, she said there was a need to the secular forces to cast their vote to Meira Kumar. He said Meira Kumar was a suitable person to the President’s post as she worked as Union Minister and Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He said she was elected to Lok Sabha for five times.
Alampur MLA SA Sampath Kumar felicitated Meira Kumar by presenting a knife and turban.
Later, Meira Kumar met the Congress MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Opposition parties’ leaders at Exhibition Society Bhavan. There she interacted with several media representatives. Later, while delivering her final address, she said she was confident that she will win the presidential election at any cost. She said she was happy to come to Hyderabad city.
Later, she paid floral tributes to Telangana martyrs at Gun Park while leaving for Delhi. In the morning, TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, AICC secretary Chinna Reddy, MLA Padmavathi, former MP Mallu Ravi, Venu Gopal, Kyama Mallesh and others welcomed her in Shamshabad Airport. Telangana Congress MLAs, MPs and MLCs participated in the Meira Kumar campaign in Telangana State. (NSS)