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.