Hyderabad, September 20: TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao is seriously contemplating to go on an indefinite fast for a second time in an attempt to accelerate the on-going agitation for a separate Telangana State.
It might be mentioned here that KCR launched his fast-unto-death on November 29, 2009 which lasted for 11 days. When his health deteriorated, he was arrested and admitted into NIMS, where he continued his fast. His action triggered off a wave of violence all over the region, especially in the State capital where the agitators indulged in stoning and damaging public properties.
The fasting by KCR and the subsequent developments forced the Congress High Command to issue a statement by the Union Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, in December 2009 about steps to be initiated for preparing a road map for the Telangana state. This made KCR to give up his fast.
Despite the region being plunged into a crisis due various forms of agitations, bandhs, resignations by ministers, MPs, MLAs and so on, the purported road map seems to be still in the making even after 21 months of its announcement. Now the T-region is turned into another cauldron due to the on-going Sakala Janula Samme.
Though KCR seems to be planning for quite some time to launch his second fast, he is learnt to have discussed the matter with his family members during the last two days. He is learnt to have also sounded to them about launching the fast this time from Nizamabad.
The Sircilla legislator, Mr K. Tarakarama Rao and president of Telangana Jagruthi, Ms Kavitha, son and daughter of KCR, on Tuesday confirmed at different places about their father’s plan to go on a fast again. Though both as protagonists of a separate State welcomed the move, as children they were not for their father going on a fast again on health grounds. They also disclosed that a final decision has not been taken by KCR in this aspect as he was still holding consultations with the family members as well as senior party leaders.
—Source:AH