HYDERABAD: BRS MLA Devirreddy Sudheer Reddy appeared at a press conference draped in a mosquito net on Thursday, to protest what he described as worsening mosquito menace and poor sanitation across the city.
The MLA said that the visual was meant to mirror the daily experience of residents. “Mosquitoes have become a serious problem. It has reached a point where if one opens the mouth, mosquitoes are entering it,” Sudheer Reddy said.
Earlier in the day, the MLA attempted to carry the protest into the Assembly premises. He told reporters that he brought along a mosquito net and a fogging machine to underline his point. Marshals, however, stopped him at the entrance, citing lack of permission, and seized the items. The confrontation triggered a brief commotion before he withdrew.
At the press conference, the MLA accused the state government of failing to contain the situation. He called for immediate, structured intervention rather than ad hoc measures. “At least 10 fogging machines should be deployed in each division in Hyderabad,” he said, urging civic authorities to scale up operations.
He also linked the issue to the city’s larger ambitions, warning that neglecting basic sanitation could have wider consequences. Hyderabad, Sudheer Reddy said, cannot afford to project an image of administrative lapses at a time when it is positioning itself as an investment and IT hub.