Telangana Congress leaders to begin strike tomorrow

After their bulk resignations in support of a separate state, Telangana Congress leaders will begin a two-day hunger strike tomorrow.

“We have decided to observe a 48-hour fast on July 13 and 14 to draw the attention of the government,” Congress MP K Keshav Rao told reporters after a meeting of the Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs who had recently quit their posts.

All those who have resigned from their posts would take part in the fast, he said.

As many as 100 MLAs and 15 MPs cutting across party lines have quit their posts this month in support of the separate statehood demand.

Mr Rao dismissed reports that Telangana leaders from the Congress will leave the party over the Centre’s lack of action on a new state.

“Our loyalty to Congress and Sonia Gandhiji is unflinching. Our demand for Telangana is equally uncompromising,” Mr Rao said.

He said that the Telangana Congress leaders are ready to talk to their counterparts from non-Telangana regions about their objection to demand for a new state.