YS Vijayalakshmi to join MPs fast in Andhra Bhavan

​New Delhi: The indefinite hunger strike by five YSRC MPs in Andhra Bhavan demanding Special Status Category entered second day on Saturday. The MPs are continuing with their fast in the corridors of the Bhavan as the tents that were erected specially for the purpose collapsed due to strong winds and rain on Friday evening.

Of the five fasting MPs, Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy fell ill. His blood pressure levels fluctuated, and he vomited. The doctors shifted him to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. YSRCP MLAs and MLCs also came to Delhi and expressed solidarity with the fasting MPs. On Sunday, mother of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, Y S Vijayalakshmi, will call on the fasting MPs and will participate in the deeksha.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury was among the leaders who visited Andhra Bhavan to extend his support to YSRC party legislators on the second day of the fast. Addressing the YSRC party members present there, Yechury said he was not visiting them "to get appreciation. This is our duty and responsibility." On the day the bill to bifurcate the state came to Parliament, he had asked about sharing of electricity, water and government employees. But there was no answer.

He said amidst din in the Rajya Sabha, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave an assurance that the Special Status would be given to Andhra Pradesh for five years. 

Reacting to it, the then Rajya Sabha member M Venkaiah Naidu demanded that the SCS be given for 10 years and said that if the Congress government fails to do so, the BJP which would come to power would extend the period of SCS to ten years. On the TDP first supporting BJP and now moving away from it, Yechury said when they questioned the TDP and BJP they said: “BJP will be at the Centre and TDP will form government in the state. Both will work for Special Status.” 

After four years of their alliance, Yechury said, “now we can see where we are standing.” Apart from Rajamohan Reddy, the MPs who are on fast are Y V Subba Reddy, Avinash Reddy, Mithun Reddy and Varaprasad Rao.