Karimnagar (Telangana) [India], February 22 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, commented that the upcoming MLC elections are a battle between betrayal and deception versus struggle and protection of justice. He called upon graduates and teachers to teach a lesson to the Congress government for their deceit and betrayal through the six guarantees. He declared that if BJP candidates win, they will start protests and agitations against the Congress government within a week.

He emphasized that his position as a Union Minister is not important to him, but the people are. He recalled his participation in protests in Hyderabad on behalf of Group 1 candidates even while serving as a minister. He criticized the Congress party for betraying the Backward Classes (BCs) by including Muslims in the BC list, and ridiculed them for now chanting the BC slogan.

At the meeting of constituency in-charges of Karimnagar Parliamentary Constituency, along with Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, MLAs Payal Shankar, Venkata Ramana Reddy, MLC candidate Anji Reddy, former MLA Bodige Shobha, and district presidents Gangadi Krishna Reddy, Gopi, former mayors Sunil Rao, D. Shankar, and Vasala Ramesh were present. Highlights of Bandi Sanjay's speech during the meeting:

He congratulated the large gathering of party workers, asserting that it is BJP's responsibility to ensure the victory of any candidate they support. He predicted significant political changes in the state following the MLC election results, stating that people are ready to vote for the BJP. He urged party workers to reach out to every teacher and graduate voter to ensure they cast their votes, as only the BJP has the moral right to ask for votes. He claimed that no one can stop BJP's victory and noted that in all surveys, Anji Reddy was leading. He mentioned that the fight for the second position is between Congress and Independent candidates.

He criticized Congress for suddenly advocating for BCs, calling it laughable. He said BJP is inherently the party of BCs, highlighting that the Prime Minister is from the BC community. He pointed out that BJP had officially declared in the previous elections that they would make a BC the Chief Minister if they come to power in Telangana. In contrast, he questioned who the CM candidate is in Congress and accused them of betraying BCs by including Muslims in the BC list. He warned people not to be deceived by Congress's newfound concern for BCs, asserting that only BJP will genuinely stand and fight for their cause.

BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) did not even have candidates and withdrew from the contest, while Congress had to borrow external candidates due to the lack of suitable contenders. He pointed to former minister Jeevan Reddy's decision not to contest as proof of opposition against Congress. He alleged that Congress is distributing Rs7,000 to Rs10,000 per vote but stated that people would not be swayed by money, as they had previously elected him as MP with a majority of over 2.25 lakh votes despite money distribution by Congress and BRS. He expressed confidence that intellectuals would not sell their votes and would teach a lesson to those attempting to buy them.

He announced that within a week of BJP candidates winning, they would launch protests and movements for employees, teachers, and unemployed youth to pressure the government. He criticised the Congress government for planning massive extortion through LRS (Land Regularisation Scheme), alleging that they intended to collect Rs1 lakh to Rs10 lakh per application, amounting to Rs50,000 crore, due to an empty state treasury and mounting debts. He accused the Congress government of reversing earlier regulations and planning to divert the entire revenue to the state treasury instead of using it for local municipal and ward development.

'Earlier, all the income generated through LRS went to municipalities and corporations. Out of the amount generated through LRS in any ward, 30 percent was spent on the development of that ward. The remaining 70 percent was spent on the development of that municipality and corporation. This Congress government has lifted those rules. It is ready to loot by introducing a rule that the entire amount should be deposited in the state treasury. It is ready to empty the pockets of the people. In the last election, they promised the people that LRS would be free. They campaigned again, saying they would not have to pay a single paisa... They have to stick to their word. They have to do LRS for free,'he claimed.

Bandi Sanjay questioned who else, other than BJP workers, has stood by the unemployed, employees, and teachers, reminding them of his sacrifices, including imprisonment, injuries from police lathis, and fighting for Group 1 candidates' rights even as a Union Minister. He reiterated that ministerial power is not important to him but solving people's problems is his priority. He declared his readiness to fight on the streets if necessary.

He emphasized that the MLC elections are a matter of respect ('Izzat Ka Sawal') and urged party workers to ensure a landslide victory, using social media extensively to support the campaign. (ANI)