The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Cine actress Vijayashanti strikes a chord with slum dwellers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 18, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Cine actress Vijayashanti strikes a chord with slum dwellers

Special Correspondent

AIMING FOR RAPPORT: Cine actress Vijayashanti undertaking `padayatra' in Ramnagar area on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: Film actress Vijayashanti, who floated her own party for the cause of Telangana, has said she will not be part of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi meeting to be held at Warangal on Monday. "I will take the movement for a separate Telangana ahead on my own," she affirmed on Sunday.

She was speaking to presspersons during a padayatra, which she undertook as a part of her Telangana Coordination Committee's mass contact programme, `Telangana Jana Jagarana yatra', in various localities in Musheerabad Assembly segment on Sunday. The actress, who severed ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party, exuded confidence that the formation of Telangana State was imperative as it was the collective will of the people of the region.

Good rapport

Welcomed by the womenfolk of various slums and middle class areas in and around Ramnagar and Musheerabad with `harathi' and `tilak', Ms. Vijayashanti struck an immediate rapport with them, making enquiries about the civic problems they faced. Referring to the heavy rain that inundated several areas and even took three lives, she said the entire civic infrastructure had collapsed miserably under the onslaught of a sharp spell and people put to untold hardships.

"If the officials cannot ensure provision of basic amenities and safety measures, why are they here," she asked, even as her words were lustily cheered by the people.

`Close manholes'

She demanded that the State Government initiate measures to close all the open manholes and clear the choked storm water drains immediately. She also demanded distribution of house pattas and rations cards to slum-dwellers.

She visited Ramnagar Gundu, Ambernagar basthi, MCH Colony, Ramnagar X Roads, Methara Basthi, Daira Market, Musheerabad X Roads and surrounding localities. This is her second visit to the city slums after Kachiguda and Amberpet areas two weeks ago.

The committee treasurer, D. Jayanth Kumar, said Ms. Vijayashanti would cover more areas in the twin cities shortly.

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