Revanth Reddy's own MLA threatens hunger strike over Rs 40 crore dues for road work

A Telangana Congress MLA, J Anirudh Reddy, on Monday threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike, even at the cost of his life, against his own party's government if it failed to release Rs 40 crore in pending bills for road works in his Jadcherla constituency.Anirudh Reddy said he was prepared to stage a protest with 30,000 people and continue it until his demands were met by the Revanth Reddy-led government. He appealed to Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who holds the finance portfolio, and Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy to release the pending funds and ensure the completion of road projects."I will sit on a protest with 30,000 people in the Jadcherla constituency. I will continue the protest until my last breath. Funds must be sanctioned, and the roads must be completed," Reddy said, addressing a gathering.Warning the government that he would resort to an indefinite hunger strike if the bills were not cleared, the Congress legislator said the release of funds for his constituency could not be delayed any further. "You should quickly clear the bills in my constituency. Otherwise, I will sit on an indefinite fast. I would rather die. But you should sanction funds for Jadcherla," he said.Reddy also said he was willing to sacrifice his life if that was what it took to secure funds for his constituency. "If my death is what it takes to secure funds for Jadcherla, I am prepared to undertake an indefinite hunger strike and even die for the cause," he said.The MLA further referred to the case of a road and buildings contractor from Nagarkurnool, claiming that bills worth Rs 5 crore were released after the contractor's death. He cited the incident to question the delay in clearing the Rs 40 crore in pending bills for his constituency."An R&B contractor from Nagarkurnool received Rs 5 crore in bills after his death. The government must decide whether I have to die for bills worth Rs 40 crore to be released or whether I should be allowed to live," he said.In another remark, Reddy said the government should decide whether funds would be released only if he died during the hunger strike."I will die during the indefinite fast if it is said that funds would be provided only if Anirudh Reddy dies. Then, you can give funds," he said.The Congress MLA also alleged that constituencies represented by ministers were receiving funds, while other legislators were being denied the resources needed for development.He called on political workers belonging to different parties in Jadcherla to come together for the constituency's development, stressing that local development should take precedence over political differences.- Ends