Hyderabad, March 22: Efforts by the State government on Monday to convince the CPI (M) leaders to call of their indefinite fast failed as the latter insisted on concrete steps for implementation of the promises made to Dalits and tribals.
Ministers P. Shankar Rao and D. Manikya Varaparasad called on CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu and other leaders at Gandhi Hospital where their fast entered the fifth day. The Ministers appealed to Mr. Raghavulu to call off the fast in view of his deteriorating health.
The government was prepared to hold discussions with the CPI (M) leaders on the demands raised by the party if Mr. Raghavulu and others came for talks.
The CPI (M) State secretary was learnt to have told the Ministers that he would not end the protest until the government concede the charter of 50 demands put forth by the CPI (M). The demands were not new and would not put any burden on the exchequer.
-Agencies