The credit of striving for eradication of poverty in the name of ‘Gareebhi Hatao’ slogan in the nation goes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, TPCC Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy has said. He recalled that late Indira Gandhi had launched many welfare and developmental schemes and implemented them successfully and remained forever in the hearts of people of the nation.
Inaugurating the year-long celebrations of Indira Gandhi’s birth centenary at Gandhi Bhavan here on Saturday, Uttam Kumar Reddy paid floral tributes to a portrait of Indira Gandhi. On the occasion, senior journalists Potturi Venkateswara Rao and S Venkatanarayana spoke on Indira Gandhi’s yeomen’s services to the nation and weaker sections of the society.
The TPCC president recalled that Indira Gandhi had launched several historic programs to keep the nation on the world map as a great nation. He also suggested that the party cadre celebrate Indira Gandhi birth centenary celebrations in the villages on grand scale throughout the year.
Delivering a lecture on Indira Gandhi on the occasion, veteran journalist Potturi Venkateswara Rao praised Indira’s Green Revolution. He said the nation achieved food security with Green Revolution taken up during her regime. He said even today there was no problem of food security because of Indira Gandhi’s decision even though the population crossed 130 crore. He said Indira Gandhi took several decisions and stuck to them. She had the attitude of rising to the occasion and declaring Emergency, tackling separate Telangana movement in 1969 and Khalisthan movements were best examples to explain her strong will power and attitude.
He also recalled that Indira Gandhi had courageously continued war against Pakistan though then American President Nixon opposed her decision in 1971. She was a dynamic leader and provided her services to the nation by nationalizing banks and scrapping privy purses. She was never afraid of problems since her childhood till her death, Potturi recalled.
Another senior journalist S Venkatanarayana shared his experiences on Indira Gandhi as a journalist. He said Indira Gandhi’s war with Pakistan and detonating atomic bomb enhanced the prestige of the nation. He reminded that a BBC survey had made it clear that Indira Gandhi was the strongest leader in the world.
TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the party would organise Indira Gandhi’s centenary celebrations in the entire year. He called upon the party activists to take up campaign about the Indira’s services to the nation. In the morning, Uttam Kumar Reddy paid floral tributes to the statue of Indira Gandhi on the Necklace Road.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir, former ministers Danam Nagender , D Sridhar Babu and several other party leaders participated in the program. (NSS)