Telangana revolutionary poet Gaddar meets Rahul Gandhi, may contest polls against KCR

Revolutionary Telugu balladeer Gummadi Vittal Rao (71), popularly known as Gaddar, called on Congress president Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence in New Delhi on Friday, October 12, and expressed his wish to fight assembly election against “fascist and feudal forces.”

The legendary poet, according to sources, discussed with the Congress President issues such as rising cases of atrocities against Dalits and communal polarisation, stressing on the need for saving the Constitution from “fascist and neo-feudal forces.”

Talking to National Herald, Gaddar said, “My mission is to work as a bridge between secular forces and the Marxist forces. The Telangana, which people sacrificed their life for, is yet to become a reality.”

Referring to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and his party as “neo-feudal forces” which are in cahoots with the “fundamentalists forces”, Gaddar claimed, “Telengana has slipped into the hands of a neo-feudal force. That is why people want me to fight election against KCR in order to expose his neo-feudalism. If all the political parties which are opposing KCR in the real sense come together then, I definitely will contest against KCR as an independent candidate. I am not going to join any political party.”

Maintaining that Rahul has given a clarion call for saving the Constitution and save India, he further said that “I have also given slogan ‘save the Constitution.’ I have suggested Rahul Gandhi to visit Chhattisgarh and the poorest areas of the country. I will accompany him.”

“I asked him, let’s go to the rural India, tribal India. Let us meet poorest of the poor and lowest of the low in social hierarchy. Let’s approach them, and organise them, ask them to stand-up and fight against fundamental, feudal and fascist forces,” he elaborated.

Subsequently, after his meeting with the legendary poet, the Congress party president posted his picture with the poet on Facebook, and disclosed: “Earlier today, I met with the revolutionary Telugu poet and Dalit rights activist, familiarly known as Gaddar. Amongst the many issues we discussed, was how to defend our Constitution from the systematic attack by the forces of fascism that seek to undermine it.”

“I look forward to hearing Gaddar sing his songs of revolution and to watch one of the plays he’s scripted sometime in the near future,” Rahul added in his Facebook post.

The septuagenarian poet, who started off as a pro-Naxalite cultural activist, had actively supported the resurgence of the Telangana movement, hoping for the emancipation of Dalits and economically backward people. He is said to have adopted the name Gaddar as a tribute to the pre-independence Gadar party which opposed British colonial rule in the country.

In fact, he had founded Telangana Praja Front – an umbrella outfit to press for the demand of the separate state in 2010. He worked as the president of the Front till 2012, and was replaced by Akula Bhoomaiah, who was alleged killed by the political opponents.

Incidentally, one of the prominent songs written by Gaddar about his native state, “Amma Telanganama Akali kekala gaanama” was selected as the state song of Telangana, soon after it came into existence.

Watch the revolutionary poet singing his fiery songs here: