CPI(M) leader ends hunger strike

Hyderabad, Feb 27 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh CPI(M) Secretary and Polit Buro member B V Raghavulu today called off his five-day indefinite hunger strike in the presence of the state Social Welfare Minister Redya Naik and the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader T Devendar Goud.

After the state government conceded his demands on welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the state, the CPI(M) leader decided to end his agitation.

The minister and the TDP leader offered a glass of juice to Mr Raghavulu who called off the strike.

On the occasion, the CPI(M) activists and the members of Kula Vivaksha Porata Samithi organised a 'victory rally' from RTC cross roads to Indira park where Mr Raghavulu launched fast.

The CPI(M) leader, who is also the Vice-President of the Committee to Fight Against Caste Discrimination, had embarked on the hunger strike on February 23 at Indira Park here demanding the government to set up a nodal agency for the special component plan for SCs and conduct a 'Dalit bata' programme in the state.

Speaking to newspersons here after ending the fast, Mr Raghavulu said he was calling off the stir after Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy accepted the demands, including setting up of SC/ST State Commission.

Threatening to resort to a hunger strike again if the government failed to implement the demands immediately, the CPI(M) leader said his party would fight for the welfare of the downtrodden in future.

Mr Naik said the government was committed to the welfare of the poor SCs and STs and the allocations in the 2007 budget would be utilized properly. The government would leave no stone unturned to get central funds for SC welfare.

The TDP leader T Devendar Goud said the party would support the agitations by the CPI(M), which was fighting for the cause of downtrodden.

UNI