'Not given a chance to speak': Rift in Telangana Congress as party whip resigns

Sampath Kumar alleged that he was not allowed to speak in the Assembly on the SC/ST Special Development Fund.
'Not given a chance to speak': Rift in Telangana Congress as party whip resigns
'Not given a chance to speak': Rift in Telangana Congress as party whip resigns
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The Telangana Congress witnessed an internal rift after Alampur Congress MLA and Legislature Party whip Sampath Kumar, resigned from the post, irked with his own party members. 

According to reports, Kumar was upset after he was denied the opportunity to speak in the Assembly on the SC/ST Special Development Fund, and his own party did not stand up for him.

Wearing a black ribbon on his neck in protest, a visibly furious Kumar addressed the media on the issue later.

"Though I am a Dalit legislator, I was denied a chance to speak on the historic Bill. TRS government, my own party and the Speaker did not give me a chance. I will sit separately till I get justice. I am deeply hurt...The ruling party hatched a conspiracy to deny me a chance to speak. I was mentally upset and did not sleep last night,” he was quoted as saying.

Following this, Congress leaders were divided into two groups. One group supported Kumar, while the other opposed him, to support the party's legislature leader K Jana Reddy.

Reports add that TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy's wife, N Padmavati, who is also an MLA from Kodad, sided with Kumar and accused the ruling TRS party for the 'injustice'.

Kumar reportedly submitted his resignation to the Assembly Secretary but was asked to submit it to Jana Reddy.

The Telangana State SCs and STs Special Development Fund (Planning, Allocation and Utilization of Financial Resources) Bill, 2017 was passed on Friday, even as the Opposition protested.

The Hindu reported that the “Bill introduced a few improvements over the sub-plan Act of 2013, especially the increase of the ratio of mandatory targeted population to 40% from the previous 20% for a habitation to be declared SC or ST.”

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