Andhra Pradesh bifurcation : YSR Cong chief begins indefinite fast
Source: The Sangai Express / PTI/Agencies

Hyderabad, October 05 2013 : YSR Congress party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Sa-turday launched an indefinite hunger strike at his residence in Hyderabad protesting the Cen-tre's "arbitrary" decision to di- vide Andhra Pradesh and said his party would challenge the Union Cabinet's decision in the Supreme Court.

"We will challenge the Centre's decision (to divide AP) in the Supreme Court," Jagan said at the 'deeksha' camp.

Noting that there were "legal problems" involved in the state's division, he wondered how the Centre could find so-lutions in six weeks.

"We are opposing the unilateral manner in which the Centre is functioning.

How can it go ahead with the bifurcation process without a resolution in the state assembly?" Jagan asked.

"We have never heard of an instance of state bifurcation without a resolution in the Assembly," he said.

The Kadapa MP asked why the Centre shouldn't change its decision "when there is so much happening in the state", when it could revoke the ordinance (aimed at protecting convicted lawmakers) on the intervention of Congress vice president Ra-hul Gandhi.

This is the second time that Jagan is undertaking an indefinite fast on the issue.

Last month, he went on an indefinite hunger-strike in the Chanchalguda Jail, where he was lodged as an undertrial in an alleged disproportionate assets case against him, but it was foiled on the fifth day.

Following the Union Cabinet's approval of division of the state, Jagan, after being granted bail in the case, re-launched his agitation blam- ing the Centre and the Congress for going ahead with the bifurcation process without addressing the concerns of "majority of people" .

Scores of YSRC activists gathered at his Lotus Pond residence to greet Jagan as he began the stir at 11.30am after paying homage at the bust of his late father YS Rajase-khara Reddy.

Party MP Mekapati Raja-mohan Reddy and other lea- ders flanked Jagan on the spe-cially erected 'deeksha' platform.

Meanwhile, normal life remained crippled for the se- cond day on Saturday in coa-stal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions where a bandh is being observed to protest the Centre's decision to bifurcate the State.

Andhra Pradesh non-gazetted officers (APNGOs) and other united-AP supporters have given a 48-hour bandh call, while Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress has called for 72-hour shutdown in the non-Telangana regions.

Both protests began on Thursday morning.

Educational and commercial establishments remained closed in Seemandhra (coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema), where normal life was thrown out of gear.

Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, IG (Coastal Andhra) said, they have deployed additional forces keeping in view attacks on residences and pro- perties of some Congress leaders yesterday.

"Additional forces have been deployed in some areas and situation was under control.

As long as agitations are peaceful we have no objection.

But if they turn violent then we will swing into action and file cases," he said.

Sporadic incidents of violence, including attack on pu- blic and private property, were reported on the first day of the shutdown.

Offices of ruling Congress came under attack from agitators in several districts.

Commercial and educational establishments belonging to PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana were also targeted and police have stepped up security at these locations and also in sensitive areas.

The pro-united Andhra employees, including the staff of state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), are already on strike since mid-August.

YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy also launched his fast-unto-death on Friday against the Centre's move.

Several party leaders and activists are also sitting on fast with him since 11.30 am.

TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu has announced an indefinite fast in New Delhi from Monday demanding "justice" for Seemandhra.

On October 3, the Union Cabinet had decided to go ahead with creation of Telangana state from out of Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Tirupati, which attracts a large number of devotees everyday, wore a deserted look as buses are not plying to the temple town in Chittoor district in view of the ongoing stir by APSRTC employees.

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