Jagan’s fast over AP special status enters 6th day

Guntur : The indefinite fast started here by YSR Congress President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy seeking special category status for Andhra Pradesh entered sixth day today and doctors expressed concern over his health condition.

According to government doctors, who are monitoring Jaganmohan Reddy’s health, ketone bodies in the body rose and he may encounter kidney-related and other health problems if the same situation continued.

Meanwhile, a war of words is on between the leaders of YSRCP and the ruling TDP over the opposition leader’s indefinite fast.

The war of words began with state ministers Prathipati Pulla Rao and Kamineni Srinivas reportedly expressing doubts on Jaganmohan Reddy’s fast (with his glucose levels allegedly rising) and YSRCP leaders taking strong objection to it yesterday.

“At a time when the fast entered sixth day and his (Jaganmohan Reddy’s) heath is causing concern, the way the shameless ministers are speaking, I wonder if they have humaneness. They say Jaganmohan Reddy is doing a fake fast,” YSR Congress leader Ambati Rambabu alleged today.

Countering YSRCP leaders’ comments, state Information Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy today said there is no need for Jaganmohan Reddy to undertake a fast now.

“Where was Jagan when YS Rajasekhara Reddy gave away five lakh acres for SEZs,” Raghunatha Reddy said in a release.

The promise of special category status was made to Seemandhra (new Andhra Pradesh) by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament during bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh last year.

YSR Congress, Congress, Left parties have been hitting out at the TDP-BJP combine for not granting special status even one year after coming to power.

The NDA government has asked NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya to go into the issue.

PTI