Chandrababu Naidu ends hunger strike

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu today called off his hunger strike a week after launching the agitation demanding higher compensation for rain-hit farmers of Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu broke the fast by taking a glass of coconut water following intervention by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav, RLD president Ajit Singh and other leaders who prevailed upon him to end the fast.

Naidu was shifted to ICU of NIMS hospital here two days ago after his health condition had deteriorated and he was administered intravenous fluid last night.

"Your battle is over. It is now our job to launch a powerful movement at the national level rpt level to take the struggle for farmers forward," Karat and the others told Naidu when they met him at NIMS this evening.

The TDP, Left and other parties decided to organise a massive farmers' rally at Guntur soon as part of their struggle.