Telangana Congress leaders to undertake 2-day hunger strike

HYDERABAD: Congress leaders from Telangana region have decided to undertake two day hunger strike to press their demand for a separate state. ``We are confident that Sonia Gandhi would decide on Telangana at the earliest and we will wait,’’ said K Jana Reddy, Panchayat Raj minister and convener of the Telangana Congress Legislators’ Front. The Congress leaders who had resigned their seats last week, have formed a 19 member committee to chalk out a programme to reach out to people in all 10 Telangana districts. Over 100 MLAs 14 MPs cutting across party lines had quit their posts to highlight the Telangana issue.

Having failed to get any support from the Centre following their en masse resignations, the legislators feel they need to intensify the agitation.

"Our loyalty to Congress and Sonia Gandhiji is unflinching. Our demand for Telangana is equally uncompromising," said K Keshava Rao, Congress Rajya Sabha MP.

According to him, the Congress leaders from Telangana are ready to talk to their counterparts from non-Telangana regions about their objection to the separate statehood demand.

Meanwhile, Osmania University once again became the battle ground for Telangana on Monday as dozens of students were arrested as police foiled yet another attempt of students to launch an indefinite hunger strike. The university campus was guarded by the police and central paramilitary forces which sealed all the routes leading towards the campus.

Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) convener Prof Kodandaram said the scene at Osmania University reminded him of the situation at Wagah border. The JAC has announced a blockade of streets in Telangana on July 12 and `rail roko’ on July 14.