People's Democracy

National Leaders Make

Naidu Withdraw Fast

LEADERS of ten non-Congress, non-BJP political parties flew down to Hyderabad on December 24, 2010 and jointly succeeded in making the Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu withdraw his indefinite hunger strike that had entered eighth day, making his health condition critical. The national leaders asserted that the state and central governments will be made to listen to the genuine demands of affected farmers of Andhra Pradesh through longer and bigger struggles in the coming period.

CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, RLD president Ajit Singh, MDMK supremo Vaiko, INLD general secretary Om Prakash Chautala, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, AIADMK leader Thambidurai, AGP leader Arun Kumar Sharma, Forward Bloc leader Devarajan and JD(S) leader Danish Ali reached Hyderabad by a special flight in the evening and drove straight to NIMS hospital where Chandrababu Naidu was continuing his indefinite fast. Around 7 pm, after persuasion by these leaders, Naidu withdrew his fast by sipping coconut water given by the central leaders.

Later speaking to reporters at the hospital, A B Bardhan said that they told Naidu not to risk his health and life by further continuing the fast given the fact that he is a diabetic. “We told him you have done your job by highlighting the misery of farmers. Now we will take this forward by chalking out a future course of big struggles to make the government heed to the demands. A big rally will be held in Guntur on this issue, the date of which will be finalised in consultations”.

Prakash Karat said that this issue of farmers to be resolved would require much longer struggle given the negative attitude of both the state and central governments. Naidu was assured that the cause of farmers will be taken up jointly by all the parties in the coming period. Noting that scores of farmers are continuing to commit suicide in Andhra Pradesh  given the great distress they are facing, Karat made an appeal to them not to resort to such extreme step. He assured them that a powerful movement will be launched across the country on their issues.

Sharad Yadav said that Chandrababu Naidu was an old friend in politics and that they all came from Delhi to save his life so that he continues the fight for farmers on the ground. Vaiko condemned the Congress government in the state for foisting an attempt to suicide case on Naidu and forcibly removing him from the hunger strike camp few days back.

Ajit Singh in his remarks said farmers across the country were facing similar agony as agriculture is increasingly becoming non-viable. He felt the struggle launched by Naidu would give a fillip to a nationwide struggle.

The national leaders returned to Delhi the same night itself.

(N S Arjun)