Hyderabad, June 27: Police foiled the indefinite hunger strike by Backward Classes leader R. Krishnaiah who began his protest earlier in the day on Friday demanding release of funds for fee reimbursement scheme and scholarships by the State government.
He was forcibly lifted by the police, along with his supporters, and admitted to Gandhi Hospital, but the BC leader vowed to continue his fast. Minutes before police swooped down on the camp, a medical check-up was conducted on him by Dr. S. Manohar of Osmania General Hospital.
The indefinite fast received wide support all over the State with protests staged by different students’ organisations and BC associations. Leaders of different parties including TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, BJP State president G. Kishan Reddy, T. Devender Goud of TDP, student unions from different universities, BCs’ associations and others visited the fast camp and expressed their solidarity.
Drama preceded the lifting of Mr. Krishnaiah as his supporters raised slogans against the police earlier, when there was no attempt from the police to enter the camp. However, when the police made a sudden entry even as the doctor was leaving the camp after the check-up and lifted Mr. Krishnaiah forcibly, they were caught off-guard.
“We have come in sufficient numbers to ensure that any resistance is taken care of,” DCP (East Zone) Mahesh Chandra Laddha said.
Speaking earlier in the day, Mr. Krishnaiah, in an apparent reference to remarks of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah that appeared in a section of the press, said: “There is no politics behind my indefinite fast but only the tears of students forced me to launch the agitation.”
The Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed was also a ploy to withdraw the scheme, he alleged. “Otherwise, why didn’t the government form such a committee on irrigation projects and other schemes?” Against the last academic year’s dues of about Rs. 2,000 crore, the budgetary allocation this year was only Rs. 3,500 crore. “How can the government justify it?” he asked.
——-Agencies