YSR Congress party president and Kadapa MP Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy today launched an indefinite hunger strike at his residence here against the Centre’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
This is the second time that Jagan is undertaking an indefinite fast on the issue.
Last month, he went on an indefinite hunger strike in Chanchalguda Jail, where he was lodged as an undertrial in an alleged disproportionate assets case against him, but it was foiled on the fifth day.
Now, following the Union Cabinet’s approval of division of the State, Jagan, who was recently granted bail, re-launched his agitation blaming the Centre and the Congress for going ahead with the bifurcation process without addressing the concerns of the “majority of people”.
Thousands of YSRC activists gathered at his Lotus Pond residence to greet Jagan as he began the stir at 11.30 a.m. after paying homage at the bust of his late father Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
Party MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy and other leaders flanked Jagan on the specially erected ‘deeksha’ platform.
The Centre’s decision to create Telangana has triggered further protests in Seemandhra region and a flurry of resignations by Union Ministers and MPs opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh.