Marketing Minister dies of heart attack

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, DEC. 25. The Minister for Marketing, Mr. Bijivemula Veera Reddy, died of a massive heart attack this morning.

Mr. Veera Reddy was given an insulin injection by Dr. Munaiah, and five minutes later he complained of chest pain at Badvel around 6.15 a.m. Complaining that his tongue was becoming numb, he spoke to his relative, Mr. Rami Reddy, for five minutes. As his condition turned serious he was rushed to the Cuddapah Government Hospital. However he died on the way. Doctors said he died of cardiac arrest. A veteran politician of Cuddapah district, Mr. Veera Reddy (78) is survived by his only daughter, Mrs. Vijaya, who rushed to Badvel along with her husband, Mr. Ravi Kumar Reddy, an ophthalmologist in Hyderabad. The Minister's body was kept at R & B guest house till noon to enable people to pay their last respects. He was cremated in grounds adjacent to BVR Degree College owned by him at Badvel with State honours in the evening.

The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Congress Legislature Party leader, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the Minister for Civil Supplies, Dr. N. Janardhana Reddy, the Minister for Transport, Mr. B. V. Mohan Reddy, the Minister for Municipal Administration, Mr. N. Md. Farooq, the Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Mrs. S. Saraswathi, the former MP, Mr. A. Sai Prathap, the Congress MLA of Proddatur, Mr. N. Varadarajulu Reddy, the former Minister, Mr. J. C. Diwakara Reddy, and several leaders of the district attended the funeral.

The Chief Minister described Mr. Veera Reddy's death as a grave loss not only to Cuddapah district, but also for the State. The Telugu Desam Party has lost a committed leader, who never gave up till he achieved his goals, Mr. Naidu said. Mr. Veera Reddy relentlessly strived for people's welfare even without bothering about his health, he added.In tune with Mr. Veera Reddy's aspirations, the Telugu Ganga Project would be completed expeditiously and the proposals to pump Pennar water to Badvel at an estimated cost of Rs. 40 crores would also be considered, the Chief Minister said. Stating that Mr. Veera Reddy lamented that crop worth of Rs. 10 crores was being damaged in Badvel segment due to lack of water in Badvel tank, Mr. Naidu directed the District Collector, Mr. Adhar Sinha, to take the necessary steps within a week.

Our Hyderabad Special Correspondent writes:The Chief Minister called an emergency Cabinet meeting immediately afterwards, where a resolution condoling Mr. Reddy's death and hailing his services was adopted. Mr. Naidu recalled the services of Mr. Veera Reddy in various capacities from Sarpanch to Cabinet Minister.

The State Government declared two days official mourning and all official functions were cancelled.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu airdashed to Badvel to attend the funeral. He was accompanied by the Minister for Civil Supplies, Dr. N. Janardhan Reddy, and the Minister for Transport, Mr. B. V. Mohan Reddy.

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