Sumedha's death was murder, not accident: Dasoju Shravan

Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader and AICC spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Shravan slammed Telangana municipal administration minister K.T Rama Rao on 20 September and said the death of 12-year-old Sumedha was not an accident but murder by the incompetent TRS government.

Alleging that it was GHMC's utter negligence which led to the young girl's death, Dr. Shravan demanded a murder case be booked against KTR, GHMC mayor Bonthu Rammohan, and local minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav.

A Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) delegation led by Dr. Shravan visited Sumedha's family at Deendayal Nagar in Malkajgiri on Sunday. After offering condolences to the bereaved parents Sukanya and Abhijeet, the Congress leaders toured the area, took stock of the open nalas, and inquired about the events leading to Sumedha's death.

“It is extremely sad to know that a young girl with a bright future lost her life by falling into an open nala due to the negligence of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Is it not the duty of the GHMC to cover nalas or place fences around open nalas? What is the GHMC mayor doing? Where is the GHMC commissioner? Isn't this visible to municipal administration minister KTR who boasts that the TRS government has spent Rs. 60,000 crore for Hyderabad's development? Where did all that money go? The death of Sumedha is not an accident but murder by the reckless TRS government and the GHMC,” said Dr. Shravan.

He also launched an attack against animal husbandry minister who hails from the Greater Hyderabad region, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, for his insensitive comments. “Speaking after Sumedha's death Talasani Srinivas Yadav commented 'will not water overflow if the rain comes?' Even a small kid knows that water overflows during the rainy season. We do not need a minister to say this. This is nothing but arrogance. Talasani has lost his mind. Instead of making insensitive comments and causing further pain to the bereaved parents, he should focus on improving basic amenities in the Greater Hyderabad area as a local minister,” the Congress leader said.

He further added that Hyderabad turns into a lake following 10-minutes of rain. “People are unable to come out during the rainy season. People are losing lives by falling into open nalas and manholes. Overflowing nalas, flooding of residential areas and roads, and traffic congestion have become regular features. Moreover, the property tax and other charges collected by the GHMC are higher than in other cities. Where is all this money going? Is it spent on developing Hyderabad or is it being usurped by TRS leaders?” asked Dr. Shravan.

He also demanded Rs. 1 crore ex-gratia for Sumedha's family. “The TRS government should pay Rs. 1 crore ex-gratia to Sumedha's family. Not just Sumedha's family but many households in the GHMC area have suffered property damages due to the recent rains. GHMC officials should visit all the affected areas and pay compensation to the affected people. The Congress will soon take up a citywide survey to assess the damage due to rains and launch a mass agitation against the reckless TRS government,” he said.

He said that Sumedha's parents have expressed a willingness to take up a legal battle against the government to avoid such unfortunate incidents in the future. The Congress party has assured its support to them, he added.

TPCC leader and MP Feroz Khan, youth Congress president Anil Yadav, Malkajgiri Congress in-charge N. Sridhar, and others accompanied Dr. Shravan on the occasion.