Lagadapati ends fast

Hyderabad, Dec 22: Taking a dig at leaders fasting in the state-run hospitals, Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal on Tuesday said it is no miracle continuing fast under medical surveillance as the doctors inject intra-veinous fluids.Lagadapati, who took lemon juice before mediapersons to signal the end of the ‘‘so-called’’ fast at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital here, recalled the advantages the Telugu people enjoyed under the erstwhile kings who ruled a vast empire from Hampi.Welfare programmes such as Rs 2 a kilo rice, old-age pension scheme, free power to farmers and corporate medical care to the white ration-card holders and similar other measures may be dropped or discontinued to the people, once the Telangana region is separated.

Rajagopal broke his 11-day fast following the Centre's assurance that it will take a suitable decision on the controversial Telangana statehood issue. The Vijayawada leader cautioned that he would resume the protest if the Centre’s announcement is not satisfactory."I will resume the fast if the Centre's decision fails to arouse confidence," he told mediamen here. The fast would be undertaken at Visakhapatnam in such a case, he told reporters.Lagadapati  issue has come to the Centre-stage after his sudden disappearance from the Government General Hospital at Vijayawada and from there he resurfaced in the NIMS at Hyderabad.Since the way he has attained high visibility in the past ten days, many people seeking an integrated Andhra Pradesh are looking forward to him for support and leadership.