Hyderabad, December 29: The Telangana Congress MPs, who launched a hunger strike on Monday morning, achieved their objective – lifting of all cases against students involved in agitations for and against bifurcation of the state – within 24 hours. And, in the process, seemed to have sent across a message to the people that it was because of them and them alone, that the “urgent” need of the student-protestors was addressed.
The nine Congress MPs, K Keshava Rao, K Rajagopala Reddy, G Sukhender Reddy, Balaram Naik, G Vivek, Sircilla Rajaiah, Sarve Satyanarayana, Ponnam Prabhakar and Manda Jagannadham, called off their stir on Tuesday afternoon after a delegation of ministers led by Sabita Indra Reddy called on them at the New MLA Quarters with a letter from Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.
The Chief Minister’s letter clearly stated that all the 1,667 cases booked against 8,047 students would be dropped.
There were visible signs of the move at day break itself. Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas first met Kiran Kumar Reddy and brought to his notice “the need for lifting of all cases” and “how beneficial” it would be for the party not only in Telangana but also in Andhra and Rayalaseema.
Prior to that, the chief minister had held a meeting with Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, DGP and ministers D Sridhar Babu, P Shankar Rao, K Jana Reddy and B Saraiah who explained to him that unless the government gave a categorical assurance, there was no way the MPs’ fast could be ended.
Later, at the Secretariat, the chief minister once gain reviewed the situation with his ministers.
By afternoon, the decision was made and conveyed to the media by the Home Minister. “Keeping in view the future of students, the chief minister has decided to lift all the cases,” she said and recalled that the chief minister had earlier agreed to lift 565 cases in the past and another 135 on Monday.
“Today, he has decided to lift all the cases,” she said.
Following the announcement, the MPs called off their hunger strike. Even at their protest camp, there was hectic activity since morning.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao materialised there from nowhere and expressed solidarity with the MPs. Some MPs did not like his “intrusion” coming as it did at a time when the government was about to make a favourable announcement.
According to sources, the Congress high command was keenly watching the unfolding drama in Hyderabad. PCC president D Srinivas was in constant touch with party state affairs incharge Veerappa Moily.
–Agencies