Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu, who was arrested in the early morning and shifted to the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (Nims) after his hunger strike entered its fourth day, said he would continue his protest.
“I am not worried about my health. There is no question of ending my hunger strike if the government does not agree to pay adequate compensation to the distressed farmers,” he said in a letter to the farming community. Naidu has been on hunger strike since December 17, demanding ‘adequate’ compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged in the recent floods and heavy rains.
Drama prevailed when the police tried to shift Naidu from the New MLA Quarters. TDP supporters, including Naidu’s sons Lokesh and Rajendra Prasad, an MLC, were injured.
The TDP chief has demanded Rs 10,000 per acre for paddy, Rs 15,000 for commercial crops and Rs 12,500 per acre for horticulture crops.
The government decided to shift Naidu to Nims following a significant drop in his blood sugar level and fluctuations in heart beat on Sunday night. A case under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to commit suicide) has been registered against Naidu and a case under Section 353 IPC (preventing a public servant from discharging his duties) was registered against other TDP leaders.
The TDP chief condemned the police action. “More than 1,000 police personnel descended on my hunger strike camp and tried to disrupt the fast.” He refused treatment and continued with his protest.
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Health principal secretary P V Ramesh, who is also director (in charge) of Nims, said a six-member team of doctors had been constituted to monitor the TDP chief’s health. The government was also consulting Naidu’s family doctor, Somaraju.
Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh, Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh, CPI National Deputy Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy and others visited Naidu at Nims.
Best possible package: CM
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said in spite of financial constraints his government had announced the best possible relief package for farmers affected by the recent heavy rains.
He said in a press release that the state government not only got the Centre’s relaxation for procurement of discoloured and damaged paddy at the minimum support price but also decided to procure damaged paddy of up to 10 per cent without any value cut.
In the last six months, Reddy said, the state government had spent Rs 6,579 crore towards calamity relief. He had also committed to provide input subsidy, seed subsidy and fertiliser subsidy to the farmers.
“We are with you. We will stand by you for all times to come. You will not be allowed to suffer. All your interests will be taken care of. All your genuine problems will be solved,” the chief minister told farmers.
Bandh
The bandh called by TDP today to protest Naidu’s arrest evoked mixed response. TDP and Left workers staged a rasta roko in many towns, particularly near bus depots. Business establishments and educational institutions remained partially shut in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Anantapur, Nellore, Karimnagar, Warangal and Kadapa. Senior leaders have also called for a statewide protest tomorrow.
Jagan to fast from today
Vijayawada: Former MP and son of late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, is scheduled to go on a 48-hour fast on Tuesday on the sandbed of the river Krishna.
Jagan is also demanding compensation for farmers and weavers who have lost their crops and wool to heavy rains in September.