Parliament urges KCR to end fast, RS adjourns briefly

BJP members forced adjournment of the Upper House for a brief period pressing for government's response on the issue of Telangana and the health of Rao. They stormed the well and raised slogans after M Venkaiah Naidu demanded that Home Minister P Chidambaram should make a statement.

In Lok Sabha, Speaker Meira Kumar was joined by Leader of Opposition L K Advani and several other leaders in expressing concern over the health of Rao, whose fast-unto-death for a separate state entered the 11th day today. "It is the wish of the entire House that he regains good health soon," she said.

Several leaders appealed Rao to end his fast.

The occasion was also utilised by some of these leaders to demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convene an all-party meeting and intervene immediately to resolve the issue in view of the "highly volatile" situation in Andhra Pradesh.

Kumar said Rao is an honourable member of the House, which is concerned over his health that has become "quite serious" in the wake of his fast.

Advani said his party colleague Venkaiah Naidu met Rao last evening and felt his condition was deteriorating.

Urging the government to immediately intervene in the matter, he said "the health of Rao is as important as the issue of Telangana".

Sharing the members' concern, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal wished the TRS chief good health.

Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, who hails from the Telangana region, said as a member that the question of Rao breaking his fast has gained "very keen urgency" and appealed to him to give up his protest action so that the issue can be looked at by all concerned.

Describing the situation in parts of the state as "explosive", JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav sought immediate intervention by government and faulted it for not taking any action in the last ten days since Rao began his fast.

Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) supported the demand for a separate Telangana and wanted the Prime Minister to take immediate initiative by calling an all-party meeting. He said Rao's hunger strike was only a reflection of the "seething discontent" of people in parts of the state.

Sudip Bandopadhyay (Trinamool Congress) had a dig at him seeking to know his party's view on the issue of a separate Gorkhaland in West Bengal.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav wanted the Centre to intervene immediately to resolve the issue through talks and end the TRS leader's fast.

CPI(M) member Ramchandra Dome, while expressing "differences" over the separate state demand, also wanted the government to intervene to save the life of Rao.
N Nageshwara Rao (TDP) said law and order had worsened in the affected districts of the state where properties had been damaged and educational institutions closed down, affecting students and youth.

Jayant Chaudhary (RLD) lamented that it was strange that government talks even to terrorist organisation but not to those who have been raising important as also emotional issues.

Favouring smaller states, he said there have been demands for separate states of Vidarbha, Poorvanchal, Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh and State Reorganisation Commission should look into it.

National Conference member Mehboob Baig expressed deep anguish and concern over Rao's health, but cautioned the government that if it yields to such tactics, then it would be dangerous for the country.

Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) said Rao has embarked on a democratic way of protest but felt that more politics was being indulged through the action, while Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) said all efforts must be made to save Rao by ensuring that he withdraws his fast.

Sudip Bandopadhyay (TC) recalled how his party supremo Mamata Banerjee had launched 26-day fast over the Nandigram and Singur issues during which the Prime Minister had intervened, as also West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy appealed to Rao to withdraw his fast and said the Telangana issue was "very sensitive" and the government was also applying its mind.

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD), S S Ajnala (SAD), T R Baalu (DMK), Anant Geete (Shiv Sena) and Bhratruhari Mahtab (BJD) also wanted Rao to end his protest and sought urgent government intervention.