Diligent Kishan Reddy gets culture and tourism ministry

New Delhi:Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy, who has been elevated to the Cabinet rank in Wednesday's union cabinet reshuffle is a live example of what one can achieve through sheer determination and hard work. His calm demeanour betrays his inner strength. Now he is the new Culture and tourism Minister.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament to 17th Lok Sabha, in 2019, from Secunderabad Constituency, Telangana. He was earlier a 3-time MLA and BJP Floor Leader in Telangana.

Gangapuram Kishan Reddy hailing from Ranga Reddy District of Telangana State, was born in a middle-class farmers’ family in 1960 to Late Sri Gangapuram Swami Reddy and Late Smt. Andalamma.

He is married to Ms Kavya, a homemaker who duly supports him in his political journey. His daughter, Vaishnavi and son, Tanmai are pursuing their higher studies.

He displayed leadership instincts since his childhood, drawing inspiration from Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, who was the mascot in the fight against Emergency and Corruption. Kishan Reddy joined the BJP during its inception in 1980 and started as a Yuva Karyakartha.

In due recognition of his unflinching commitment towards the party and his compassion for people, he rose to the level of National President of the BJYM, in 2002.

He contested as an MLA from Himayatnagar Assembly constituency in 2004 for the first time. As an MLA for three terms, he was guided by the self-imposed ethic ‘Honesty is my motto and development is my path’. Of the many milestones that he went on achieving, his work for the child-heart patients deserves special mention.

The movement evoked a significant response from the society as many organisations came forward to support the government initiative. In due recognition of his passion for the cause of children, the UNICEF (U.N. Organization) honoured him with Child-Friendly Legislator Award.

He further played an essential role in the separate Telangana movement; he rejuvenated the Telangana movement by conducting ‘Telangana Poru Yatra’ for 25 days during which he addressed 333 meetings.

As the former President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, he founded the World Youth Council against Terrorism (WYCAT) an apolitical organization to fight terrorism across the world which organized the International Youth Conference against Terrorism (IYCT) in New Delhi in which over 193 delegates participated from over 54 countries.

On the other hand, he also conducted "Seema Suraksha Jagaran Yatra" with an objective to express solidarity to the people living in the hostile border areas and impress upon them, as well as the government, to be more vigilant to make borders pores proof.

He covered eight states travelling more than 1200 km by road for 45 days in the border-district villages adjoining Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Nepal.

Mr Reddy’s natural leadership instincts were honed by Indian nationalist and social reformer Jayaprakash Narayan and various RSS leaders.

Strong commitment to Indian Nationalism, a discipline within the RSS, had deeply attracted him, which then catalysed his foray into politics and inspired him to join the BJP.

He was also influenced by Swamy Vivekananda who’s principles of unity, nationalism, discipline, the power of collective struggle helped him pave his way into politics.

Key positions including were Member of Parliament–2019–Secunderabad Lok Sabha Constituency, BJP Floor Leader – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Legislative Assemblies, MLA- Himayatnagar and Amberpet Assembly Constituencies, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana-2004-2018 , International Chairman – World Youth Council against Terrorism (WYCAT), National Secretary – Indian Council of Political Leader (Alumni members Flat form of “American Council of young political leaders” (ACYPL), Chairman – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Home Guards Welfare Association, Chairman – Telangana Kabbadi Association.

Mr Reddy started his political career as a Leader of the Youth wing of the Janata Party in 1977. In 1980 he joined the party full time on the formation of the BJP from the Jana Sangh. 1982-1983 State treasurer, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha – State Department, 1983-1984, State Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha – Andhra Pradesh State, 1986-1990 State President for five years, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM)- Andhra Pradesh State, 1990-1992 All India Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and In-charge for South India, 1992-1994 All India Vice President, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, 1994-2001 National General Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (Served three consecutive terms for seven years), July 2001 – August 2002 , State Treasurer, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh State Spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh State BJP Head Quarter Administrative In-charge, Andhra Pradesh.

September 2002 – June 2004 National President, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), September 2004-05 State General Secretary & Official Spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh, May 2004-2009 Elected as an MLA from Himayath Nagar Assembly Constituency, Hyderabad City, 2009 – 2014 Second time MLA Amberpet Assembly Constituency, Hyderabad City, March 2010 to March 2014 President – Bharatiya Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh State – Two Terms, March 2014 to April 2016 State President, BJP Telangana, First BJP State President of Newly formed Telangana State, 2014 –2018 Third time elected as MLA from Amberpet Assembly Constituency, Hyderabad City.(UNI)