Hyderabad: Sanathnagar BRS MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav on Saturday strongly opposed the GHMC’s move to rename Annapurna canteens after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, warning of large-scale protests if the decision was not rolled back.
Talasani led BRS corporators in a protest at the GHMC office, questioning the Congress government’s decision.
He said Annapurna canteens were started under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to provide full meals to thousands arriving daily in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. If there was any plan to rename the scheme, he demanded that a GHMC council meeting be called and a decision made through a majority vote.
Talasani argued that no one objected when the name of Rajasekhar Reddy was retained for Arogya Sri. “Annapurna is associated with Ammavaru. If the government wants to change the name, there must be discussion and voting,” he said.
He added that while the Congress was free to give its six guarantees any name it liked, changing the Annapurna canteen name was unacceptable.
Talasani accused the Congress of trying to take credit for projects it did not build, mentioning the opening of the PJR flyover as an example.
He warned that the BRS would intensify its agitation if the Congress government did not withdraw the name change decision.