Fasting Cong. MLA hospitalised

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 20. The Congress and Left Party MLAs' indefinite fast entered the third day on Sunday. Seventyone-year-old MLA of the Congress, Mr. J. Ratnakar Rao, was shifted to the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences around noon when his condition deteriorated.

A team of doctors stationed at the venue, the Old MLA Quarters, suggested to the CLP Leader, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, that Mr. Ratnakar Rao be shifted. Dr. Reddy left the choice to the latter who followed the doctors' advice. Mr. B. Srinivasa Reddy, another MLA from Ongole, is running temperature and the condition of Mr. Ponnala Laxmaiah was also not good.

The stream of visitors to the Congress' hunger strike camp continued today. This was in sharp contrast to the thin crowd at the Left party hunger-strike camp.

Compared to the stream of plush cars used by main Opposition leaders and their followers, Left party workers and sympathisers come in autos or on foot or by bus. There was entertainment too with Andhra Praja Natya Mandali members rendering anti- establishment songs.

Red banners and posters decrying the price hike are prominently displayed. Representatives of nine Left parties sat on relay hunger strike today in solidarity. Left workers staged a rasta roko for some time near the MLAs' hostel in the morning. A police photographer-cum-videographer who tried to take snaps of the Congress hunger-strike camp was mobbed and sent out.

The Congress leaders were busy planning Statewide relay hunger strikes. In Nellore district, relay hunger-strikes have already been launched by the party and there was good response, Mr. S. Santosh Reddy, former Minister and incharge of the district, said.

The main Opposition leaders hardened their stance after coming to know that the Chief Minister ruled out any rollback in prices. They reiterated that the agitation would be taken to the logical end. Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy declared that it would be his life or rollback.

Talking in groups and separately to presspersons, they vowed to continue the fight jointly with the Left parties. ``The Chief Minister has committed a mistake and has given us a new lease of life,'' was the refrain of everyone.

``We are willing to accept the constitution of the House Committee as agreed to by us earlier. Our condition is simple. Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu has to agree to keep the hike in abeyance till the committee submits its report. We abide by the committee report. His adamant nature is appalling'', they said.

Mr. M. V. Mysoora Reddy said it was upto the ruling party to decide. He said the Chief Minister and his colleagues lacked ``basic decency.''

Mr. Kodanda Reddy, former secretary of the CLP and Mr. V. Hanumantha Rao, former MP, accused the Government of being inhuman. Referring to the condition of some MLAs they said, if anything went wrong, then it would be the responsibility of the Government.

Mr. K. Rosaiah challenged the Government again to prove that the Congress had effected a 40 per cent increase in power charges in 1992.

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Section  : Southern States
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