MPs call off fast after lifting of cases, forget demand of withdrawal of forces

Following the written assurance given by the state government over the unconditional lifting of all police cases against students and agitators who participated in the bifurcation and integration of Andhra Pradesh, the Congress MPs from Telangana region on Tuesday withdraw their indefinite hunger fast.

Congress Rajya Sabha member K Keshava Rao called off the hunger strike at New MLA Quarters after Ministers P Sabita Indra Reddy, K Jana Reddy, DK Aruna and Sunitha Lakshmareddy conveyed the government’s decision to them.

Home Minister P Sabita Reddy handed over a letter by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, written on behalf of the state government to Mr Kesava Rao and appealed to MPs to withdraw their fast.

The letter said that the state government took the decision to lift police cases against students after considering their future.

Ms Indra Reddy said that the government would move Court to withdraw some cases of serious nature booked under CRPC 321. 

Minister K Jana Reddy said the Ministers have persuaded the Chief Minister to lift all cases against students considering their career and future. He appealed to the MPs to call off their fast immediately and cooperate with the state government.

Mr Kesava Rao thanked the MPs for extending their cooperation in observing the fast. He said the future course of action would be decided after the Justice B N Srikrishna Commission submits its report on December 31.

When INN reminded Mr Kesav Rao that the MPs had said that they would fast till the government withdraws the cases against students and also till the Central Paramilitary Forces were withdraw from the state, the CWC member preferred not to answer and left his chair.

Earlier he had taken a glass of lime juice to break his fast after MP Sarvey Satyanarayana read the contents of the Chief Minister’s letter and explained its implications to the MPs.

The MPs began their fast on Monday demanding immediate withdrawal of all the police cases filed against students during the Telangana agitations.