Jagan being treated at NIMS, power crisis continues in Seemandhra region

YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, who had been on a hunger strike for five days to protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is presently recuperating at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here where he was forcibly shifted last night amid concerns about his health.

According to reports, the 40-year-old politician was forcibly given fluids at the NIMS. Reddy was severely dehydrated and had low levels of sugar, but he refused to end his fast.

"He has been taken to hospital for treatment. He has not been arrested. But since his health has deteriorated, we have shifted him to the hospital at the advice of doctors," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Aiya.

Expressing deep anguish over the arbitrary bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Reddy had earlier blamed Congress President Sonia Gandhi for the 'crisis' in the state and accused her of exploiting sentiments of people to pave way for Rahul Gandhi to become the Prime Minister.

"Sonia Gandhi is responsible for the crisis in the state and she has been playing with the sentiments of the people with the singular motive of seeing to it that her son Rahul Gandhi is made Prime Minister," he said.

He further appealed to Sonia Gandhi to reconsider the decision, as creating a new state would badly affect the future generations of one region.

"The division is arbitrary in nature and does not address all issues that are bound to crop up after the bifurcation," he said.

"The motive of the division could be political but Delhi cannot play with the sentiments of the people of one region. I once again appeal to the Centre to roll back its decision on division," he said, adding that BJP should also take a call on the issue and stand up for a united state.

Meanwhile, the power crisis continues in Seemandhra region as talks between the Andhra Pradesh Government and striking non-gazetted employees failed yesterday. (ANI)

The reconstituted Group of Ministers (GoM) looking into bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will hold its maiden meeting tomorrow. To be chaired by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, the GoM has not been set any deadline, as against the six-week timeframe envisaged earlier.

The Central Government had earlier on Tuesday reorganized the GoM, cutting its strength from 10 to seven ministers.

The members now include Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh. Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy shall be a special invitee.

On October 3, the Union Cabinet had decided to go ahead with the process for the creation of a separate Telangana state carved out from Andhra Pradesh.