Congress, BJP in tug-of-war over hosting events at Parade Grounds

HYDERABAD: In a one-upmanship move that could snowball into a major controversy, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) claimed that it was the first to seek permission to organise a public meeting at the Secunderabad Parade Grounds on September 17. The Congress would hold a public meeting as part of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Hyderabad at venue.

“We (Congress) applied for permission three days ago and also visited the grounds to chalk out a plan for the public meeting. Now the BJP says that it will be organising the Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations on the same day at the same venue. We must be granted permission as we are the first to apply,” Congress MLC Jeevan Reddy said at the Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday. He advised the BJP State unit to show some maturity and allow Congress to organise the public meeting.

Mahesh Kumar Goud, TPCC working president saw a nefarious plan by the BJP in claiming Parade Ground where the CWC planned the release of a manifesto for the ensuing elections and five guarantees. “Initially Union Home Minister Amit Shah was to address a public gathering in Warangal. Now they have shifted the venue to Secunderabad only to scuttle our programme where 10 lakh people are expected to gather,” he said.

The Congress leader said that he was not sure whether their application for an alternative venue at LB stadium would be accepted, suspecting a tacit understanding between the BRS and the BJP.

Meanwhile, the State BJP president G Kishan Reddy speaking at ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ in Kavadiguda reiterated the party’s intention to organise the liberation day celebrations on September 17 under the aegis of the Central Government. “The BRS Government is afraid of celebrating the day because of Majlis,” Kishan Reddy said.