Telangana statehood row: Jagan Mohan Reddy begins fast in jail

YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has began his indefinite fast in jail on Sunday demanding to maintain status quo if the Centre cannot do justice to all regions.

The YSR Congress Party has appealed to the cadre to express solidarity with him undertaking fast and dharnas across the region.

"It is believed that Jagan Mohan Reddy went on indefinite fast since this morning and a section of media has been trying to unleash false propaganda sowing seeds of suspicion about the fast while in custody though there are no restrictions or guidelines set for the protest programme," said YSR Congress spokesperson Ambati Rambabu.

"It is the right of every citizen to undertake any agitation programme unlike what is being projected by a section of media. Gandhiji went on indefinite fast in jail on many occasions. The media that is supportive of the Seemandhra agitation too trying to spread falsehood about the possibility of going on fast in jail is unfortunate," he added.

Ambati Rambabu appealed to the party cadres to join YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in expressing protest against the Centre's decision which is unilateral and not in the interests of both the regions.

"While Chandrababu Naidu who has been amidst the people could not express concern over the injustice meted out to one region and flatly refused to withdraw the letter he has given agreeing to the division of the state, Jagan despite in custody, is always with the people and their interests are high on his mind. Though in custody for the past 15 months he has become the voice of the people and has taken up the issue which is affecting a multitude of people," Rambabu said.

"That is the reason why he has undertaken the fast in the jail is that he wanted to react to the situation timely unlike Congress and TDP MPs who are enacting drama by trying to stall the Parliament instead of convincing their leadership that has given nod to the division," he added.

Commenting on the ongoing protests surrounding the creation of a separate Telangana state, Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday said that the AICC panel headed by senior Congress leader A K Antony is hearing the concerns of those affected.