Interview: Gaddar felt insulted after KCR made him wait for hours at Pragathi Bhavan, says daughter GV Venela

A. I did not directly tell my father that I would be joining the Congress. He asked me if I was contesting in the polls. I said yes. I also told him we were always with him, but I never thought the moment would come so early in my life.

The thing is, after Telangana’s formation, he had been researching what weapon he could give to society for future generations. So he took up the Constitution of India and had been studying it, He handed it over to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to safeguard the rights of citizens. Since 2017, they had been studying it together and this is what connected them (Sonia Gandhi and Gaddar).

While the Telangana agitation was going on, Gaddar sir decided he would support the Congress and campaign for it since the party took up the initiative of carving out a new state. The party felt his voice and legacy should not stop with his demise, and was willing to welcome any member of the family.

My brother was in touch with them and they felt that since the BRS had fielded G Lasya — a woman — in Cantonment, I would be the right candidate for it, given my qualifications and how I dealt with the people.

Q. I read that you have a special connection with the constituency and your schooling also happened here. So, are you merely backing your father’s legacy or is it more than that?

A. Yes, I was born and brought up here. My school and college are done here. My relatives and my friends’ circle are here. As a child, I represented the Jan Natya Mandali as a dancer in the whole of Telangana and AP. That is the special connection I share with this constituency.

Of course, I would also invoke my father’s name due to his sacrifices I have got this opportunity.

People who know me personally know how I stand with them. So first is the Congress’ legacy, then my father’s, and then mine.

Q. There has been much debate about your father being made to wait for over three hours at Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s residence at Pragathi Bhavan. What exactly happened?

GV Venela with Vijayashanthi. (Supplied)

A. Initially, we (Gaddar’s family) did not know that my father had been kept waiting for a long period. After a few days, when it was reported in newspapers, we asked him whether it was true. He said yes, and that he felt very bad and insulted.

Being Gaddar, who stood by his songs, poems and sacrifices. The Telangana movement was close to his heart. He felt he was representing the masses, but after this incident, he got the impression that we had handed over Telangana to somebody else.

If such a great personality was not being respected, then what about the people of Telangana? That pained him greatly, and then he raised his voice against the BRS.

Q. What are the main issues affecting the people of Secunderabad, which you will focus on if voted to power?

A. Water, drainage, and unemployment are the major issues. Another major issue is pattas. There are people living here for 50-60 years, but they don’t have pattas (ownership papers), which is causing a lot of problems for them — especially those residing in the slum areas. They are unable to renovate or repair their houses due to lack of pattas.

Q. Municipality vs Cantonment — the Secunderabad constituency has been facing the issue of road closures, and residents have been demanding that the cantonment board be converted into a municipality so that they get the same amenities as other parts of the city. Your take on it?

A. It’s a very sensitive issue, and has to be threaded carefully. We can’t just make brash statements, right? The army has sacrificed a lot for the country. We can’t just ask for the board to be removed.

It does cause a huge inconvenience, no doubt about it, but that doesn’t mean I can simply ask for the roads to be opened. We must respect the defence forces.

An amicable solution has to be brought through discussions. And that the Congress will take responsibility by coordinating between the defence forces and the state.

Q. What was your father’s dream of an ideal Telangana?

A. The Telangana agitation was for water, shelter and other basic needs like education and power. It is almost 10 years since Telangana was created, and people are still feeling that they don’t have access to the basic amenities and jobs. Employment opportunities are most important for families, and many students are feeling betrayed. There has been no recruitment for 10 years. That is the reason people are getting agitated once again.

The Congress is supportive. Our six guarantees show how eager we are for change and fulfilling people’s needs.

Q. Secunderabad is a melting pot of cultures. How would you navigate that?

A. Here, we are not competing against the BRS and the BJP. People are tired of Lasya (the BRS candidate) and the legacy of her father (Sayyanna). Even though Lasya is like my sister, I am against the BRS’ ideology. Here, around 60,000-65,000 people are of Tamil origin. The Muslim population is 30,000-35,000, and Hindus are around 20,000. They won’t go for the BJP, as it is not a secular party.