Four-laning of NH-9: Congress MLA threatens to launch hunger strike

Seeks reaction from Transport Minister T. R. Baalu

-PHOTO: R. Biksham Ruther

SEEKING DEMAND: Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy addressing a press conference at his residence in Nalgonda on Wednesday.

NALGONDA: The Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy (Congress) has warned of launching an indefinite hunger strike from January 2, if the Union Surface Transport Minister T. R. Baalu fails to react to his padayatra to be launched from November 21 demanding four-laning of the National Highway no.9.

“My fight is against the Minister and it is not construed as an anti-party or anti-Government activity. He has been diverting all funds to Tamil Nadu by ignoring our repeated pleas for the widening of the NH-9, which turned out to be virtual death trap,” Mr. Reddy told reporters at his house here on Wednesday. He alleged that the Minister had been converting many “unnecessary roads” in Tamil Nadu into four-lane roads.

Lives lost

He observed that as many as 1536 people lost their lives in accidents since 2001 to 2006 September on the NH-9. “The Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy tried his best to launch the widening works this year. Since his efforts didn’t materialize, I’ve decided to take up agitation to save the valuable lives of people as well as to exert pressure on the Government,” he announced.

To a question, the young MLA claimed that the Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy had appreciated his move. “I met him this morning and made my stand clear. He said that the padayatra would help in educating people. The Chief Minister further asked the MLA of the Andhra region to join hands with me,” he revealed.

Launch of yatra

Mr. Venkat Reddy said that about 5,000 Congress activists would take part in the padayatra to be launched from Rajiv Gandhi statue on Nov.21. Meanwhile, the TD State vice-president P Gutta Sukhender Reddy ridiculed the Congress MLA’s decision to launch padayatra for four-laning of the NH-9. “He is trying to fool people.

Instead of exerting pressure on the Prime Minister and the party high command, he is resorting to gimmicks to deceive people,” he said demanding the resignation of the Congress Minister Jaipal Reddy and other Congress MLAs before taking up agitation.

Komatireddy to take on Maruthi

HYDERABAD: In the backdrop of a tough posture adopted by the Telugu Desam MLA, S. Maruthi, at last week's open discussion on tenders for the Thotapally irrigation project, the Congress has decided to field its legislator, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, to take on him for Sunday's deliberations on the Vamsadhara project.

Mr. Reddy will replace A. Harimohan, a retired Superintending Engineer and Project Administrator of Srisailam Right Branch Canal. As a graduate in civil engineering, he is eligible to represent the Congress at the discussion.

Mr. Maruthi was involved in a slanging match with the Advisor to the State Government, P. Sitapati Rao, at the discussion on Thotapally last Sunday.

Komati promises IT policy soon

Hyderabad

June 28: One of the several fallouts of the Satyam episode is a desire for greater government involvement in the IT industry. The recession has also been an educative experience for the industry leaders and young techies alike. Job security is a high concern area, and software engineers are turning to the government to safeguard their interests.

The government has turned to Mr Komatireddy Venkat Reddy to handle the ministries of IT, youth services and sports. Mr Venkat Reddy, 46, is a tech-savvy engineering graduate, who providentially, is also interested in sports. He is one of the few MLAs who have registered a hat-trick victory in state politics. Mr Komatireddy won from Nalgonda in the 1999, 2004 and 2009 elections defeating the Left party candidates. He is a close confidante of the Chief Minister and has been rewarded with a ministerial berth for the first time. These portfolios were earlier handled by Mr Damodar Reddy who won from Suryapet in Nalgonda.

This time around, however, Mr Damodar Reddy was denied a berth in the Cabinet. The Chief Minister was disappointed with Mr Damodar’s performance, particularly in the Satyam episode.

Mr Komatireddy has virtually no experience in handling the portfolios he has been assigned. He acknowledges his new assignment will be challenging. “I have already studied the IT Policy-2005. There are a lot of changes required in the policy. More incentives have to be given to firms which will set up operations in tier-III areas. After detailed discussions with industry representatives, the government will unveil the new policy very shortly,” he revealed.

According to him, the government is contemplating additional investments in e-governance to drive IT benefits into rural areas. “Luckily, I have the opportunity to handle both youth services and sports. Rural games will be revived. Mini stadiums will be constructed to encourage sports. I am always ready to address grievances of the people," said Mr Komatireddy.

Source : Deccan Chronicle.

Gutta, Komatireddy put up a united show

Poll-ready: Congress candidate for Nalgonda Parliament seat Gutta Sukhender Reddy with K. Venkat Reddy and K. Rajgopal Reddy in Nalgonda on Tuesday. -

NALGONDA: The famous dictum that “there are no permanent friends or foes in politics” has been proved yet again.

Former MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy, who quit the TDP and joined the Congress recently, and Nalgonda sitting MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy of the Congress, hitherto vocal critics of each other, have joined hands with a common goal. Sukhender Reddy and Venkat Reddy had filed their nominations from Nalgonda Parliament and Assembly segments respectively on Tuesday.

The two leaders vowed to collectively ensure party’s victory in the district.

Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, submitted his nomination papers as Congress candidate from Bhongir Parliament seat.