Jagan begins 2 day fast for Andhra farmers amidst protests

Nizamabad, Andhra Pradesh : YSR Congress leader Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy tonight began his fast on farmers’ issues at Armoor in Nizamabad district of Telangana region amid protests by Telangana supporters. Alleging that Jagan has an anti-Telangana stance, the statehood supporters squatted on the roads, burnt tyres, pelted stones on his convoy and voiced their protest in various other forms at several places while he was on his way to Armoor from Hyderabad. The protesters were removed by policemen. TRS and Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (JAC), which insist that any leader who visits Telangana should have a clear-cut stand on statehood demand, had called for protests against the YSR Congress MP’s fast. Meanwhile, Jagan’s supporters welcomed him at some places during his journey to Armoor for the 48-hour fast. Speaking on the occasion, Jagan maintained the time has come to “teach a lesson” to the Congress government in the state. “The fast is intended to be an eye opener for the government that is in deep slumber over farmers’ problems”, he said. [caption id=“attachment_178469” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Speaking on the occasion, Jagan maintained the time has come to “teach a lesson” to the Congress government in the state. Reuters”]  [/caption] The YSR Congress leader demanded the government set up a price stabilisation fund for providing minimum support price for farmers and also ensure nine hours of free power supply to them as promised by his father late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. He sought immediate relief for drought-hit farmers. Jagan offered prayers at a famous British-era church at Medak, hailed as an architectural marvel, while on his way to the hunger strike venue. Asserting that it respected the sentiments of people of Telangana, YSR Congress, however, has said it is for the Centre to take a decision on the long-pending statehood issue. Jagan had said last night that his fast should not be politicised as it was intended to highlight farmers’ problems. The Kadapa MP’s earlier attempt to visit Telangana for undertaking his ‘odarpu yatra’ (tour for consoling) in Warangal district had met with violent protests by Telangana supporters. TRS and Telangana JAC had tried to stall TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to Telangana region last week but he managed to undertake his ‘padayatra’ in Warangal district over farmer issues. PTI