Telangana Betrayal Day: 72-hour Fast By KCR

With the 42 day Sakala Janula Samme demanding formation of a separate Telangana state coming to an end yestrday, the pro-Telangana activists are finding new ways to keep the separation-fire burning. Accusing the Centre for still dragging feet on the Telangana issue, the TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and his senior colleagues in the party are now planning to go on a fast.

According to party sources, at least 14 TRS MLAs would sit on fast for a minimum of 72 hours starting from November 1. While the Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to celebrate November 1 since it is the formation day of the state, the pro-Telangana groups see that as a 'Betrayal Day'. It was on that day the erstwhile Hyderabad state was merged with Andhra region, which was demerged from the then Madras state. "Many of the MLAs would observe their fast in Hyderabad. There is also a proposal to ask the MLAs to go to their constituencies and sit on fast. Since KCR represents Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency, he is likely to sit on fast there," a party source said.

Not to be left behind in the race to hog limelight, senior Congress member and former minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy is also planning to sit on a fast on November 1. He is likely to convert his fast into an indefinite one with the single demand of forming Telangana state.