Telangana tangle: Fasting Congress MP Rajagopal in hospital

Congress MP L Rajagopal, who has been on an indefinite fast in support of a unified Andhra Pradesh, was taken into police custody and forcibly shifted to a hospital today, triggerring protests from his supporters who staged demonstrations across the coastal city.  

"The MP was lifted from his hunger camp at 5.30 am and shifted to government hospital in view of his health condition. We had last night decided to shift him to hospital keeping in mind the security scenario," Vijayawada City Commissioner of Police Rajendranath Reddy told PTI.  

The Vijaywada MP began his indefinite hunger strike on December 14, protesting the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.  Doctors are monitoring Rajagopal's health and he may be shifted to Nizam's Institute of Medical Science (NIMS) in Hyderabad, the officer said.  
Soon after Rajagopal was taken into custody, Congress workers, anti-Telangana protesters and supporters of Rajagopal resorted to road blockades and demonstrations at Vijaywada.  

Former Ministers M Budhaprasad, D Rajasekhar and several leaders are staging a road blockade on NH-5 resulting in massive traffic jams, the police official said, adding "We have diverted the traffic at several places and the situation is under control."

Meanwhile, tension prevailed near the hospital premises after state Animal Husbandry Minister K Parthasarathy was 'gheroaed' by activists of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and they prevented the minister from meeting Rajagopal.

The JAC agitators who are observing a 48-hour bandh in Vijayawada of Krishna district staged a series of protests in support of their demand for 'Samaikya Andhra Pradesh' (United Andhra Pradesh) across Vijayawada.