Relay hunger fasts across Telangana for T Bill

Demanding the introduction of a Telangana Bill in the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament, protagonists of the separate statehood demand on Friday began their Relay Hunger Fasts across the region as part of their intensified agitations.

The Relay Hunger Fasts were launched by activists of Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Bharatiya Janata Party following the call given by Telangana Political Joint Action Committee. The TPJAC had earlier called for the relay hunger strikes in all the Telangana districts as part of its push to pressurise the Centre to table the separate statehood Bill in Parliament.

Friday saw thousands of activists from the two parties pledging to step up their agitation until a separate Telangana state is achieved, with the TPJAC convenor Prof Kodandaram leading the way.

Prof Kodandaram inaugurated the hunger strike camp at Kukatpally in the city and declared that the struggle for a separate Telangana state would continue till the Centre conceded to the demands of the region’s people.

The TPJAC leader stated that the agitation would continue in a democratic and peaceful manner, but their patience should not be tested further by anymore delaying tactics.

Meanwhile, the Congress Core committee member and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to convene another round of talks with the all-party leaders shortly.