Season of indefinite fast in AP

Politicians undertaking an indefinite fast to put pressure on the government to concede their demand is catching on in the state.

While the Opposition leader and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu launched a hunger strike 10 days ago, it is now the turn of the ruling party members of Parliament (MPs) from the Telangana region who went on an indefinite fast from Monday.

In between, former Congress MP from Kadapa YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with a large number of his supporters, organised a two-day hunger strike camp. While Naidu and Jagan demanded a better relief package to the flood-affected farmers, the Congress MPs are demanding withdrawal of cases against students who took part in the separate Telangana stir.

They are also pressing for withdrawal of the paramilitary forces, which have been deployed in large numbers as a part of the security build-up ahead of the Srikrishna Committee report to be submitted by December 31.

The Centre has reportedly sent 2,000 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in addition to the 2,400 personnel already stationed in the state. Besides, there is a 1,000-strong Rapid Action Force to deal with any outbreak of violence in the aftermath of the panel's report.

Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had not conceded the demand made by Naidu and Jagan and it remains to be seen whether he would yield to the pressure of his own partymen.

So far, like in the case of Naidu, the chief minister appealed to his party leaders to withdraw their agitation. When they did not listen, he sent two of his Cabinet colleagues, K Jana Reddy and B Saraiah, to persuade them to call off the fast but to no avail.

Consequently, the chief minister held a meeting with ministers hailing from Telangana, including home minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, where it was decided to immediately withdraw 135 cases filed against 900 persons in addition to 565 cases involving 2,400 persons already withdrawn.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, Jana Reddy said the government was also seriously considering withdrawing the remaining 975 cases phase-wise. On the whole, the police registered 1,670 cases against those engaged in pro and anti Telangana agitations across the state from November 2009 to September 2010.

The agitating Parliamentarians, however, were unsatisfied with the government’s response and 11 MPs, led by senior party leader and Rajya Sabha member, K Kesava Rao, continued their fast.