Ramesh launches hunger strike for Kadapa steel plant

Sinister motives behind Centre’s dilatory tactics, alleges the Telugu Desam MP

C.M. Ramesh

The Union government is deliberately dilly dallying on its promise of establishing a steel plant in Kadapa, despite the State government’s offer to provide the necessary facilities, Rajya Sabha member C.M. Ramesh alleged on Wednesday.

He launched a hunger strike along with MLC Mareddy Ravindranath Reddy on the Kadapa Zilla Parishad office premises demanding establishment of the steel plant in Kadapa.

Mr. Ramesh came in an impressive rally from Potladurthy, his native village in Yerraguntla mandal, and garlanded the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and party founder N.T. Rama Rao in Kadapa.

Asserting that the TDP MPs were voicing their concern in Parliament on the demand, the MP said he would not give up until the Centre gave a concrete assurance to set up the steel plant.

The Centre was aware that the granted permissions would stand cancelled if mining was not undertaken within two years of allotment of mines, but was adopting dilatory tactics, he alleged.

‘Lame excuses’

Though the State government had forwarded to the Centre, a report on the amenities to be provided for the proposed steel plant, the BJP leaders were making baseless allegations that no report was sent on allotment of land, power and water facilities, Mr. Ramesh claimed. “The Centre, which promised the steel plant, is giving lame excuses of late that setting up a steel plant is not feasible,” he said.

Jagan flayed

Unleashing a tirade against YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the MP accused him of being ‘sadistic’ and not raising the demand for the steel plant, but trying to hoodwink the people of Kadapa district.

Minister for Social Welfare Nakka Anand Babu alleged that the Congress harmed the State by bifurcating it and the BJP was being indifferent to the State’s needs.

Marketing Minister C. Adinarayana Reddy alleged that Mr. Jagan was not acknowledging any development undertaken by the State government.

Party MLC P. Ramasubba Reddy, Badvel MLC T. Jayaramulu, district TDP president R. Srinivasulu Reddy and others expressed solidarity to the MP and MLC.

‘Politically motivated’

Meanwhile, BJP spokesman P.V. Satyanarayana told the media in Vijayawada that the indefinite fast by Mr. Ramesh was politically motivated, and asserted that the Centre would certainly give the green signal for it.

Mr. Satyanarayana said the TDP leaders were creating a scene to ensure the BJP would not get credit for the project.

Polavaram

He said party State president Kanna Lakshminarayana would reveal the facts about the Polavaram project after a visit on June 24, he said the Central government would bear the entire cost of the project.

BJP OBC leaders B. Siva Narayana and Pallapu Raju were present.