On the fourth day of the indefinite strike by YSR Congress leaders, MP Y.V. Subba Reddy took ill and had to be rushed to hospital. He is the third parliamentarian among the five MPs who were on fast since last Friday to fall ill.
Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (73) was sent to hospital on Saturday and Tirupati MP Vara Prasadarao Vellagapalli fell ill on Sunday. Currently, only two MPs — P.V. Midhun Reddy (Rajampet) and Y.S. Avinash Reddy (Kadapa) — are holding the fort at Andhra Bhavan.
Appeal to PM
YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday tweeted an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant special category status. “Narendra Modi ji , the lives of these MPs and the future of the people of A.P. are at stake. Requesting you to please fulfil the promise you made to us on Special Category Status,” he said.
The YSR Congress’s indefinite hunger strike has got little political support.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja and JD(U) rebel Sharad Yadav have been the only political leaders to visit the fasting parliamentarians.
YSR Congress’s honorary president Y.S. Vijayamma has been camping in the capital since Sunday to offer moral support. To step up pressure, more party cadres are expected to join in soon.
Hits out at TDP
Hitting out at the Telugu Desam Party, the YSR Congress asked why the ruling party MPs were not resigning from their posts and joining in their indefinite hunger strike for the cause of special category status.
“Would there not be a nation-wide debate if all 25 MPs from the State quit their posts? Would it not mount pressure on the Centre and force it to accord SCS to A.P.,” the statement said. It also asked why the TDP chief and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was giving “lame excuses” for his party MPs not resigning.
The Telugu Desam MPs closed their protests in Delhi on Monday after a morning visit to Rajghat. Now the parliamentarians plan to take the protests back to their constituencies.
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