Vikramarka begins fast to ‘save democracy’

Hyderabad: Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka began a fast unto death on Saturday at Indira Park to protest against Assembly Speaker Poch-aram Srinivas Reddy’s “illegal” decision to merge 12 Congress MLAs who had defected into the TRS.

Initially, Mr Mallu Bhatti planned to take up a 36-hour hunger strike but changed it at the last minute to a fast unto death.  He accused Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao of becoming a “political terrorist”. He said: “CM started the game, we will end the game.”

He said that he would fight for President’s Rule in Telangana state. Mr  Bhatti claimed that he began the fast to save the Constitution and democracy.

He alleged that the Speaker had taken the letter “clandestinely” from the defecting MLAs. He questioned how the Speaker had taken a decision on the merger when  disqualification petitions against the defectors were pending with him.  He alleged that funds were being misused and the TRS was purchasing MLAs like cattle in the market. He said that they would file a complaint to the Lokpal against Mr Rao’s alleged corruption.

TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, AICC general secretary R.C. Khu-ntia, secretary V. Hanu-mantha Rao, TJS president Prof. Kodandaram, Telangana TD leader Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, Congress MLAs and several Congress leaders met Mr Bhatti and express solidarity.