Congress MLC backs demand for Sathupalli district Extends support to agitators

Sathupalli: Congress member of the State Legislative Council Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy on Monday extended support to the agitators of the ongoing 73-day-old relay hunger strike demanding creation of a new district of Sathupalli, incorporating the mandal centre.

Addressing the protestors, Reddy stated that he would appeal to both the State government and Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to carve out Sathupalli district, comprising Aswaraopet division (in Kothagudem district) and Sathupalli, which now forms part of Khammam district.

The MLC demanded immediate creation of Sathupalli district and appealed to the members of political parties to join the agitation to press the demand for creation of separate district.

Later speaking to press persons at the Congress party office, Reddy hit out at both the Central and State governments stating that they were only indulging in talk and not doing any productive work. He accused the State government of failing on all fronts, including the Krishna river water issue.

The MLC claimed that despite the availability water in the Krishna there was a danger of crops in two lakh acres under the Sagar canal in the ‘second zone of Khammam district’ going dry because of the government’s negligent attitude. He accused Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of not devoting attention to the issue.Referring to the effect of demonetisation, Reddy pointed out that farmers were unable to secure crop loans and was distressing their lives.