Cong MPs, MLAs go on hunger strike against own govt in AP

PTI

Hyderabad, 27 December 2010: Congress MPs from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh today began a fast demanding withdrawal of police cases registered against all students and said they were not satisfied with the lifting of only 600 ’’minor cases’’. 

 

Eleven Congress MPs and 20 legislators started fasting at Gunpark in front of the state Assembly, rejecting the appeal made by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy last night, asking the Parliamentarians not to undertake the proposed fast.

 

"This is not a protest against our own government. The students are not hardcore criminals. One year has passed since we are making this demand. This is a self-infliction to bring moral pressure on our government," Congress Rajya Sabha member K Keshavrao said.

 

Expressing dissatisfaction with the withdrawal of about 600 minor cases against the students, Keshavrao demanded that all cases be withdrawn.

 

He denied that the MPs are indulging in "political posturing" by undertaking a fast.

 

Keshavrao also demanded the withdrawal of the central paramilitary forces deployed in Telangana.

 

When asked if their fast has the blessings of Sonia Gandhi, another Congress MP Sarve Satyanarayana said, "We have the blessings of Sonia Gandhi for every good thing."

 

On a query about their threat of resignations, Keshavrao said they will tender resignation to Sonia Gandhi for pursuing the demands for introduction of a bill in Parliament for the formation of separate Telangana.

 

Meanwhile, Telangana JAC convenor M Kondandaram visited the MPs to express solidarity.