Naidu to go on indefinite fast

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday stated that his party was ready to make any sacrifice for the sake of getting justice for rain-hit farmers. Talking to media persons after started off on a Padayatra from the Gosha Mahal police station to Assembly, Mr Naidu demanded that the state government provide immediate relief to distressed farmers who suffered heavy crop losses during recent rains.

Mr Naidu, along with his and Left parties’ leaders, had spent the night in police custody at the Gosha Mahal police station following their arrest on Monday over farmers’ woes. The TDP chief condemned the state government for resorting to arresting the farmers’ leaders and TDP Legislators, along with party activists who were protesting against the neglect of the farmers. He said that the government, instead of solving the problems faced by the hapless farmers, was resorting to dictatorial methods by stifling dissenting voices.

The former chief minister also threatened to go on an indefinite hunger fast from December 17 if the government failed to announce special package for farmers in the areas devastated by heavy rains. Communist Party (Marxist) MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy warned the state government that the Opposition parties would intensify their protests across the state from December 17 if the government fails to address the farmers’ issues. Meanwhile the police made tight bandobust at Gosha Mahal police station and along the route to the Assembly before Mr Naidu embarked on his padayatra.