Suspend Sakala Janula Samme: Jana Reddy, KK Appeal

Telangana Congress Steering Committee chairmen - Panchayatiraj minister K Jana Reddy and Rajya Sabha MP K Kesava Rao on Wednesday issued a joint appeal to leaders in the Telangana region to suspend their Telangana agitation "for a brief period".

Speaking to media at his residence, Jana Reddy said that Congress leader Vanama Raghavendra Rao and CPI leader Sambasiva Rao were on an indefinite fast in Khammam district demanding statehood for the Telangana region. He said that Raghavendera Rao has lost about 7 kilograms of weight since 14 October. He appealed to both the leaders to end the fast immediately. He clarified that all the allegations being made against him were baseless. He also refuted the media reports criticising his statements asking for the withdrawal of the general strike.

MP K Kesava Rao said that leaders and activists ought not harm themselves in the name of agitation, and requested the Khammam leaders to call off their indefinite fast. He said that senior Congress leaders were busy giving final touches to the next course of action to be taken to achieve a separate Telangana. The Rajya Sabha MP said that he is visiting the national capital on Thursday, and that once he returns he would disclose the protest plan that the Telangana Congress Steering Committee has planned. He said that the agitation would be taken up in a more planned manner, with 2 leaders spearheading it in each district.