Jagan begins 7-day fast for fees reimbursement fund''s release

Hyderabad, Feb 18 (PTI) Former Congress MP Y S JaganMohan Reddy today started a seven-day fast here demanding thatthe Andhra Pradesh government release funds for the tuitionfees reimbursement scheme.

Jagan began the fast at the Indira Park here around noonin the presence of thousands of students and other supporters.

The hunger strike was attended by 11 MLAs -- NPrasannakumar Reddy, Makapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, BalnagiReddy, Konda Surekha, P Subash Chandra Bose, Srikant Reddy,Adinarayana Reddy, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, G Babu Rao, KRami Reddy, Amarnath Reddy -- loyal to him.

The managements of professional colleges have threatenedto shut down the colleges from February 24 following failureof the talks with the state government for release of at least50 per cent of Rs 3,500 crore towards fee reimbursement. Thegovernment is ready to release Rs 1000 crore for the purpose.

Jagan has held hunger strikes earlier on various issueslike demanding higher compensation for farmers hit byheavy rains, alleged adverse fall out of the verdict of Krishariver water disputes tribunal among others.

His fast in Delhi on the verdict of Krishna waterdisputes tribunal created a sensation as it was attended byabout 25 Congress MLAs.