LIVE: Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy Press Meet

Politics in Khammam are heating up against the backdrop of the Congress party's public rally. As preparations are underway for the rally taking place in Khammam on Sunday evening, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy arranged a press meeting in the morning. He accused that people are being prevented from attending the evening rally with the help of officials, and that government bigwigs are being deployed for intimidation. Activists claimed that the authorities are obstructing the people of Khammam district at large. Ponguleti announced his joining the Congress party in front of Rahul Gandhi during the public rally organized by the Congress party. On this occasion, he stated that activists and people of the district, who are watching him closely, are prepared to attend the meeting freely. He explained that they had prepared nearly 1700 private vehicles, including tractors, bikes, autos, cars, and DCM vans. However, Ponguleti was upset that the government was planning to restrain the people. He accused that about 50 Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) from Khammam district and nearby districts have been mobilized to inspect vehicles from midnight on Saturday. They are stopping vehicles, checking RC, C book, and other papers, aiming to frighten people and prevent them from attending the meeting, he claimed. He accused that senior officials and government leaders are doing this under pressure. In this context, he suggested to his activists and his supporters that they should not be scared, resist oppression in the path of Satyagraha, and go to any extent for this. Ponguleti said that they will come to the meeting by walking if vehicles are seized or not available. He expressed that they are indebted to Sonia Gandhi for Telangana and it is time to repay that debt. He said that Rahul Gandhi, Sonia's son, will attend the rally.