Prashanth Reddy begins hunger strike under house arrest, BRS condemns police action

BRS MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy launched a day-long hunger strike from his residence after being placed under house arrest ahead of a planned protest over pending development works in Bheemgal. The BRS accused the Congress government of suppressing democratic protests and delaying key public projects.

Nizamabad: Former Minister and Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy launched his day-long hunger strike at his residence in Velpur after the police placed him under house arrest ahead of his proposed protest over pending development works in Bheemgal. He will be on a day-long hunger strike even as BRS cadre reached his residence in large numbers.

On Wednesday morning, the police surrounded his residence and informed that he was not allowed to venture out. The police also detained several BRS leaders and activists across the Balkonda constituency, and were shifted to various police stations to prevent the protest. The party leaders accused the State government of suppressing a peaceful democratic protest, and dismantling the protest camp erected in Bheemgal overnight.

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The hunger strike was planned to press for the completion of works, including the development works in Bheemgal Municipality, construction of a 100-bed hospital and renovation of the RTC depot. The BRS alleged that these projects were substantially completed during its tenure but had since stalled under the Congress government.

Speaking to media before commencing his hunger strike, Prashanth Reddy said the police action would not deter his fight for public issues, asserting that his fast would continue despite the house arrest. He demanded that the government announce a timeline for completing the pending works, including a 100-bed hospital, RTC depot, vegetable and non-vegetable market, and CC roads, instead of suppressing peaceful protests.

BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao condemned the police action, alleging that the Congress government was stifling democratic dissent by preventing a peaceful hunger strike. He accused the government of resorting to repression instead of addressing public grievances and urged it to withdraw anti-democratic measures against the Opposition.