Reds call off fast; say govt buckled

Propose to take up second phase of the agitation soon Hyderabad: Top Left leaders B V Raghavulu, K Narayana and others, who launched an indefinite fast against the proposed hike in power tariff and imposition of Fuel Surcharge Adjustment (FSA), have called off their strike on Wednesday. They, however, stated that communists would now take the fight to people's court until the government withdrew its earlier decision. Raghavulu and Narayana made the announcement about calling of the protest in the premises of Gandhi Hospital on Wednesday morning. It may be mentioned here that police forcibly shifted the Left leaders from the fast camp at Indira Park and admitted them in Gandhi Hospital on Tuesday. Only because of the agitation took up by the 10 Left parties from March 23, the government was rethinking on its earlier decision, observed CPI(M) state secretary B V Raghavulu. "Politicians cutting across party lines expressed support to our stir, which is a reflection of the strong resentment against government's decision to burden the consumers," Raghavulu pointed out. He, however, condemned the government for disrupting their protest which was undertaken to protect the interest of the people of the State. Meanwhile, CPI state secretary K Narayana claimed only because of the pressure exerted by communists' the government was holding discussions with APERC on the Rs 13,000 crore proposed burden on power consumers. "This is the first phase of Left parties' agitation on power issue. We will start the second phase soon. Government should review the Merchant Power Policy. APGENCO should be given more responsibilities and encouragement," he added.