Dy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka calls for 20 years of Congress rule to fulfil vision for tribal empowerment
HYDERABAD: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday declared that the Congress must remain in power for the next 20 years to turn its slogans into lasting laws.
He said: 'Our struggle for water, forests, land and livelihood — 'Jal, Jungle, Zameen and livelihood' — requires sustained governance to achieve true results.'
Vikramarka joined Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to launch the Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam scheme in Macharam village, Amrabad mandal.
Speaking at the public meeting, he hailed the scheme's launch as 'a historic milestone, worthy of being etched in India's history in golden letters.' He described it as 'a visionary, nation-worthy initiative born from the heart of the Chief Minister and his dedicated ministers.'
Vikramarka spoke passionately about the centuries-long struggles of tribal communities, who 'fought and bled for forests yet reaped no rewards.' He announced that the Nallamala Declaration, introduced under Reddy's leadership, will extend benefits to all tribal regions in Telangana. 'We will implement it with utmost sincerity, delivering tangible outcomes within four years,' he vowed, crediting Reddy's deep commitment to uplifting backward communities.
He said that the Rs 12,600 crore Soura Giri Jala Vikasam Scheme is a bold move to empower tribals who are historically left behind. Vikramarka revealed that tribal farmers will now grow high-value crops like avocados, previously exclusive to wealthy farmers. These crops will yield profits within two years, with the Horticulture Department providing free saplings for intercropping to ensure interim income.
Condemning past injustices, he said, 'Under the previous regime, tribal women were tied to trees and beaten for farming, while men faced false charges. Such atrocities will never be forgotten.' He warned that any criticism or conspiracy against the government would be treated as a conspiracy against Telangana's people.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Thrissur celebrates veteran Congress leader Therambil Ramakrishnan's Sathabhishekam with warm tributes
In a vibrant celebration, Thrissur came together to honour one of its most respected public figures, senior Congress leader and former Assembly Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan, on his Sathabhishekam (a celebration marking completion of witnessing thousand full moons) on Friday. The birthday celebration held at Kausthubham Auditorium drew people from all walks of life, symbolising the deep admiration and emotional bond the public shares with the veteran Congress leader. By 10:45 a.m., Mr. Ramakrishnan arrived with his family, greeted by Congress leaders, supporters, and cultural personalities. Accompanied by his wife Chandra, he lit the traditional lamp, formally marking the beginning of the celebrations. A feast followed, setting the tone for a day filled with affection and reverence. Even elderly people, despite physical challenges, made it a point to attend — a testimony to the emotional legacy Mr. Ramakrishnan has left in the lives of so many. Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi greeted the senior leader with an embrace, acknowledging the decades of dedicated service Mr. Ramakrishnan gave to the constituency. In a rare moment of political transcendence, Minister of Higher Education R. Bindu paid her respects by touching Mr. Ramakrishnan's feet — symbolic not just of personal reverence but also of a shared past, as Mr. Ramakrishnan had been a classmate of her mother during their pre-degree days. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general Secretary K.C. Venugopal; KPCC President Sunny Joseph; former President K. Sudhakaran; Opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan; senior congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and A.K. Antony greeted him over the phone. The guest list was a who's who of Kerala's political, cultural, legal, and journalistic spheres. Dignitaries included Ministers K. Rajan, Auxiliary Bishop Mar Tony Neelankavil, spiritual leader Swami Gabheerananda, football icon I.M. Vijayan, DCC President Joseph Tajett, UDF District Chairman T.V. Chandramohan, MLAs Saneesh Kumar Joseph, P. Balachandran, CPM District Secretary K.V. Abdul Khader, CPI's K.K. Valsaraj, former MPs T.N. Prathapan and Ramya Haridas.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Batteries, EVs under threat? India fires on all cylinders for rare earths amid China's tightening grip
As China tightens its stranglehold on the global supply of rare earth elements , India is shifting gears — fast. From forging new partnerships in Central Asia to finalising an ambitious incentive scheme for mineral recycling , India is pushing ahead to secure its place in the global race for critical minerals . At the recently held India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, India and five Central Asian nations expressed mutual interest in jointly exploring rare earths and other critical minerals. In a joint statement, they called for an early meeting of the India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum, signalling growing geopolitical urgency to diversify away from China's near-monopoly. China's chokehold spurs urgency The backdrop to these moves is no coincidence. Over the past year, China has weaponised its control over rare earths, placing several critical minerals and magnets under strict export licence regimes. These are the very components vital for electric vehicles , wind turbines, semiconductors, and even military-grade systems. Beijing's message is clear: if the West can play export control hardball, China has its own scalpel and it's now using it with surgical precision. While the US, Europe, and Japan scramble to find alternative supply lines, India sees an opening — and it's moving to capitalise. From mission to momentum Under the Rs 34,300 crore National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), India aims to become self-reliant in sourcing and processing critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. Joint Secretary in the Mines Ministry, Dinesh Mahur, announced that an incentive scheme for recycling these minerals is in its final stages. The Union Budget has already earmarked Rs 1,500 crore specifically for this effort. Public Sector Enterprises are expected to contribute Rs 18,000 crore to the mission. With a sharp focus on domestic exploration, overseas block acquisition, and technological R&D, the NCMM is India's boldest bet yet to insulate its industries from global supply shocks. Auto industry feels the heat The urgency is not just strategic — it's also economic. Rare earth shortages are already casting a shadow over India's auto sector, especially electric vehicles (EVs), which depend on permanent magnets for motors. Bajaj Auto has warned that its e-scooter production could be impacted from July if Chinese export delays continue. TVS Motor has echoed similar concerns. According to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), only a third of its members expect sales growth in June. The rare earth crunch, combined with high inventories and tight financing, has pushed automakers to brace for a cautious month — especially as the EV rollout faces headwinds. China's long game, India's fast track What China is doing today has been decades in the making. The world first saw signs of Beijing's ambitions in 2010 when it temporarily banned rare earth exports to Japan over a territorial spat. By 2020, China had passed its own Export Control Law, giving it sweeping powers to curb exports of materials deemed vital to national security. The law was broad enough to include critical minerals, tech, and even data. Now, with the US-China trade war escalating, rare earths have become Beijing's leverage. Export licenses have slowed, production lines in Europe have paused, and Washington is on edge. China's near-monopoly on processing and refining rare earths — not just mining them — means that even if other countries dig up the ores, they'll still need China to process them. Which is why India's current push isn't just policy — it's necessity. The Road Ahead While China refines 90% of the world's rare earths, India is still building capacity. But the groundwork is being laid — with diplomatic ties, budgetary commitments, and strategic focus. The success of the NCMM could determine whether India emerges as a resilient alternative or remains vulnerable to future supply shocks. With global demand for EVs, semiconductors, and green energy tech rising, the stakes couldn't be higher. In this global battle for minerals that power the future, India is no longer on the sidelines. It's suiting up — and firing on all cylinders.
New Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's political secretary removed amid stampede during RCB victory celebrations
BENGALURU: A day after the State Government suspended five senior police officers, including the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, the Chief Minister's Political Secretary has been removed from the post with immediate effect. A notification by the Undersecretary (Protocol), Department of Personnel and Administrative Reform (DPAR) said K Govindaraj, Political Secretary to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been removed from the post with immediate effect. Congress MLC Govindaraj was appointed as the Political Secretary to the CM on June 1, 2023. The State government is facing flak after a stampede during the RCB's IPL-2025 victory celebrations at Chinnaswamy stadium that claimed 11 lives. Earlier in the day, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy had accused Govindaraj of putting pressure on the CM to hold RCB victory celebrations. The opposition BJP and JDS leaders are demanding the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara. On Thursday, the government suspended five senior officers including Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayanand. Accusing the government of making police officers scapegoats, BJP and JDS leaders said the investigation by CID, magisterial probe, and inquiry by a retired High Court judge would not reveal the truth and justice would not be served to the victims' families. The Congress party high command has to remove Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, said Kumaraswamy.
