After lunch, Shah talks loos, sops

Farmer Gode Beerappa, sarpanch Ramulamma and Dalit women in this tiny village with whom BJP national president Amit Shah interacted and took lunch are on the cloud nine at being the centre of attention.

On the menu was white rice, tomato pappu, sambar, alu curry, veg biryani, mirchi ka salan and ice cream.

Sitting on a chair in the modest house of Beerappa, Amit Shah enquired about problems faced by them while TS BJP chief K. Laxman played the role of an interpreter.

Z category security was all around and police had a tough time keeping the onlookers at bay. The village itself, and the route, was full of posters, cut-outs and banners welcoming the BJP president.

“Sir, we are facing drinking water problem. There are also no proper irrigation facilities for the lands,” Beerappa told Amit Shah. He was offered coconut water.

Asked if the house has a toilet, Beerappa replied in the negative. As he was chatting, he invited the other members of the family members to join him even as cameras continued to flash.

Amit Shah met Yadaiah and Padma, Pedda Bikshamaiah, Laxman, Parakala Dhananjaya families.

He interacted with residents of the Dalit Colony in the fluoride-hit village and received several complaints, especially from women, on lack of safe drinking water, toilets, proper housing scheme, ration cards, pensions among others, according to BJP state executive member Vuppala Sharada.