Hyderabad: BJP workers are claiming credit for the re-opening of a few cantonment roads in Secunderabad. Candidates aspiring for MLA and MP tickets in the 2019 general elections conducted a ‘palabishekam’ to the portrait of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman’ at AOC, hailing her for the decision to re-open the roads. Separately, TRS leaders were quick to take credit.
The real heroes, however, are the 20 lakh residents who relentlessly fought to get the roads reopened. Till Friday, the residents were worried over the implementation of the order and opening of all closed roads. They continue to take circuitous routes stretching several kilometres to reach their destinations.
BJP aspirant Jai Prakash said. “It is the BJP minister who followed up with the Local Military Authority and ensured that the citizens are not put to difficulty.”
He said a few roads were shut while the Congress was in power, and the others after the TRS formed government. “It is the BJP government at the Centre that worked on re-opening the roads,” he said. He said a series of palabishekam functions were held at the AOC to fete Ms Sitharaman for the decision.
This comes amid unconfirmed reports that the roads are only likely to stay open till the 2019 elections, and the order was only meant to score political points. However, the Army has been tight-lipped on the issue.
When asked about the reports, Secunderabad Cantonment Board Vice-President J. Ramakrishna said, “It depends, we cannot predict it. Whatever the decision the government has taken so far is the right decision. Let's wait and see.”
Since the roads have been closed, the state government which proposed alternative roads from Ramakrishnapuram flyover and Safilguda to East Marredpally has done to little work to take it forward. The state government has neither acquired defence land nor exchange the promised land with the Army. The entire proposal on the alternative roads lies on paper.
