Komatireddy Starts Indefinite Fast For Telangana

Former minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Tuesday started an indefinite hunger strike to pressurise the central government to initiate the process to carve out a separate Telangana state immediately.

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who resigned as minister last month protesting the delay in formation of Telangana, began his indefinite fast in Nalgonda town in the presence of some party MPs from the region. "I am ready to sacrifice my life for the cause of Telangana. There is no question of calling off the fast," he told a huge gathering. Venkat Reddy alleged that ministers from Telangana were the main hurdle in the formation of a separate state.

Congress MPs, who were present at the venue, criticized their own party for not taking a clear stand in favour of Telangana. Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao said it was a shame that Congress MPs participating in Telangana movement were being implicated in false cases and sent to jail. MPs K. Rajagopal Reddy, G. Vivek and Ponnam Prabhakar were also present.