Jagan Reddy to go for another fast in AP

Former Congress MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy would undertake a week-long fast from Friday in Hyderabad demanding that the Andhra Pradesh government release funds for the tuition fees reimbursement scheme.

The fast would begin at 10 am at Indira Park in Hyderabad and will continue for a week, sources said. Jagan has held hunger strikes earlier on various issues like demanding higher compensation for farmers hit by heavy rains, alleged adverse fall out of the verdict of Krishan river water disputes tribunal among others.

His fast in Delhi on the verdict of Krishna water disputes tribunal created a sensation as it was attended by about 25 Congress MLAs.

Jagan had announced that he was doing a favour to the Congress by asking the party MLAs, loyal to him, not to quit their posts for now.

With the state assemblys budget session beginning on Thursday, it is matter of interest to see how many Congress MLAs would attend Jagans protest now.

Jagan has announced that he planned to launch his political party next month. Managements of private professional colleges have already announced that they will shut down the institutions from February 24 in protest against the failure of the state government to release at least 50 per cent of the total Rs 3,400 crore required for fees reimbursement.

Citing financial difficulties, the government said it was ready to release about Rs 1,000 crore which was rejected by the college managements.