CM Revanth Reddy announces aid for families linked to Telangana statehood agitation

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy Monday directed officials to provide financial assistance to two families associated with the Telangana statehood agitation, including the elderly parents of a man who disappeared after participating in the movement in 2013.

The Chief Minister directed officials to provide Rs 5 lakh to the parents of Mandala Raju after Congress MLA from Bhupalpally Gandra Satyanarayana Rao brought their circumstances to his attention. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, Rao told Reddy that Raju had actively participated in the Telangana agitation and was arrested and lodged in Hyderabad’s Cherlapally jail in 2013. Raju, the only son of his parents, subsequently disappeared, and his elderly parents were now struggling without a source of livelihood, the MLA said.

Rs 5 lakh for parents

Responding to the appeal, Reddy directed officials to provide Rs 5 lakh in financial assistance to Raju’s parents. The government statement did not provide details about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance or subsequent efforts to trace him.

The Telangana statehood movement witnessed prolonged protests before the state was carved out of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Students, government employees, political workers and other sections participated in demonstrations and other forms of agitation demanding separate statehood.

Aid for couple’s children

In a separate case, Reddy directed officials to provide Rs 10 lakh to the children of Lingala Kedari and his wife Pushpalatha of Hanumakonda district, recognising the couple’s contribution during the statehood movement.

According to the government, the couple ran a small hotel and provided food, snacks and tea free of cost to people participating in the agitation. Both have since died.

Reddy directed the Hanumakonda district Collector to provide Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to their children.

The two decisions were announced as part of the state government’s efforts to extend assistance to families associated with the movement that led to the creation of Telangana.