Telangana row: K Chandrasekhar Rao warns of another fast

Hyderabad, Dec 27: Slamming the UPA government for not acceding the separate Telangana demand, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on Dec 26 said the separate statehood agitation would be intensified in January and he was ready to take up a fast-unto-death again.

"We have given adequate time and a break to our agitation. But no concrete steps have been taken. We will intensify our agitation after 'Sankranti' (mid-January). If necessary, I will again undertake a fast-unto-death during the budget session (of Parliament and state assembly)," he said.

He had held an indefinite hunger strike in 2009, which subsequently led to the Centre announcing on Dec 9, 2009 that steps for the formation of separate Telangana would be initiated. The announcement, however, was met with protests from people and leaders of other regions, who said the Centre had acted unilaterally, without holding any consultations.

Pointing out that the Telangana supporters have adopted various kinds of agitations like rail and road blockades, and prolonged strikes, he accused the government of being "thick-skinned".

"We want implementation of what they had announced earlier-- formation of Telangana. Though all sections of the society have participated in the agitation, they don't open their mouths. Those ruling this country are deaf," he said.

PTI