Telangana: CM's appeal for 'no-fast' rejected

Hyderabad, Dec 27: After the high-profile fasting of TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Ministers is all set to embark on a fasting spell all over again. This time its not for the farmers cause, but the simmering Telangana issue seems to be bubbling over.

The Telangana MP's and MLA's seems determined to start fasting for the separate Telangana state. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Dec 26 appealed to Congress MP's to refrain from fasting. "The Chief Minister says that we should not go ahead with our fast. (But) We are going ahead," Congress MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy has been quoted as saying.

The call for fast came after cases were registered against students who protested for a separate Telangana state. Andhra CM held talks with Congress president D Srinivas, Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy and Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy to check ways and means by which Telangana supporters can call off the proposal for fast.

This comes at a time when the Sri Krishna Committee was supposed to submit a report on formation of a separate state."If the government withdraws the police cases against students by evening, it is fine. Otherwise, Telangana Congress MPs would go on fast from tomorrow (Dec 27). It is a Gandhian fast," Congress Rajya Sabha member K Keshav Rao said to reporters after the meeting.

Kiran Kumar Reddy had already withdrawn as many as 565 cases against 2,431 persons. Telangana supporters are hell-bent on the call for statehood and are ready to quit their position of authority in protest as well.

"We are fully confident that Telangana statehood will be realised. Since there is no compromise on this issue, all MLAs, MPs and even MLCs will submit their resignations (if the demand is not accepted)," Keshava Rao added.

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