The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : PJR in forefront of people’s issues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

PJR in forefront of people’s issues

M.L.Melly Maitreyi

The working class always banked on P.Janardhan Reddy to provide them justice

Perceived as the most accessible people’s representative
Though not given a Cabinet berth, he constantly remained in the limelight

-- PHOTO : NAGARA GOPAL

Sea of humanity: Supporters of P. Janardhan Reddy paying their tributes at his residence in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Be it the Alamatti row, Yeleru scam at the State level or issues concerning the city from the questionable allocation of tank bund land to the Prasads Imax, to the recent collapse of the scaffolding of the Punjagutta flyover, it was P. Janardhan Reddy who brought them to the public domain through his relentless campaigns.

Heading a small group of 26 MLAs as the Congress floor leader in the Assembly that did not even qualify him for the status of Opposition leader, he made life difficult for then ruling Telugu Desam then with his incisive and in-depth analysis of issues on the floor of the Assembly, often putting the treasury benches on the backfoot.

Mass base

Though heckled by his opponents for his rustic demeanour and language, none could ignore his growth from the grassroot level or his standing in the Congress as a senior leader.

A leader with a mass base who took utmost care to nurture his constituents, PJR was perceived by the people of Khairatabad constituency as the most accessible people’s representative. This remarkable trait in turn earned him people’s goodwill that often translated into huge gatherings at public meetings organised by him to demonstrate his loyalty to the party high command as well as his support base such as the ones for unveiling Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi statues at Kukatpally and Hi Tec city, respectively.

He would immediately rush to the spot when there was a mishap. PJR was among the first to arrive when the scaffolding of the Punjagutta flyover collapsed and remained at the spot past midnight for a first hand assessment of causes and prepared a report for the Chief Engineer, R&B, demanding action against Gammon India and MCH officials for the negligence.

Working class hero

The working class always banked on him to provide instant justice. Known for organising ‘in the face’ protests, the rallies he organised with empty pots to highlight the drinking water problem in the city in the late 1980s had quite an impact.

A devotee of ‘Peddamma’, he developed the temple complex at Jubilee Hills which attracts devotees even from outside the State.

Though not given a Cabinet berth, he constantly remained in the limelight for his active involvement in public issues.

In a way, in his death, the common people have lost a leader who vocalised their concerns.

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