Bhatti calls off indefinite fast

Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in Telangana Assembly M Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday called off his three-day-old hunger strike. He launched an indefinite stir protesting the merger of 12 party MLAs with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The Congress leader ended his fast at the State-run NIMS hospital where he was shifted by the police in view of his failing health this morning. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy offered lime juice to the leader before calling off the hunger strike.

"Doctors said his sugar levels have fallen to 69 and BP is fluctuating. Continuing the (fast) would pose a threat to his life. This fight would continue. All of us appealed to him and made him withdraw the fast by offering juice," Reddy said.

Vikramarka initially refused to take treatment but relented after the party colleagues made an appeal to him to call off the fast in view of his deteriorating health condition.

He said that the Congress would step up its protest against the defection of its MLAs and would organise a 'dharna' in front of District Collectorates on Tuesday.

The TPCC leader also said his party would seek an appointment with the President and the MPs from the State, including him, would raise the issue in parliament.