Vijayamma embarks on indefinite fast

30 MLAs, five MLCs join protestA Hyderabad : Firing a salvo at N Kiran Kumar Reddy Government for 'pushing' the state into deep power crisis, YSR Congress Party honorary President YS Vijayamma on Tuesday announced that her party would provide relief to the consumers from the ever increasing tariff burden if YSR party was voted to power in 2014 election in the state. Vijayamma along with her party MLAs and MLCs launched indefinite hunger strike at New MLA quarters in the city, protesting the hike in power tariffs and energy crisis in the present Congress government. She paid tributes to the victims of Basheerbagh firing incident at the martyrs memorial and walked to the protest venue along with all the legislators and supporters. Speaking at the dharna site, she launched a broadside against the Chief Minister and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu by holding them responsible for the present power crisis. Claiming that not an acre of standing crop was allowed to wither due to power problem in the former Chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's regime, she said her husband YSR made promise in the 2009 election manifesto that power tariff will not be hiked. After the death of YSR, his successors brushed aside the promise and imposed tariff burden on common man. In a scathing attack, the YSR party leader alleged that TDP increased power tariff for eight times in Naidu's nine year rule. People would have got relief from tariff burden had the TDP, as the main opposition, played a constructive role in fighting against the Congress government. It was the TDP which saved the government from the no- confidence motion moved by her party.

Disqualify rebels: Jogi 'Rebel' Congress MLA Jogi Ramesh on Tuesday dared the Congress government to disqualify the MLAs of both Congress and TDP, who switched loyalties to the YSR Congress Party and face the by-elections immediately. Pedana Assembly Constituency MLA alleged that the government was dilly-dallying on the disqualification of the rebel MLAs which is pending before Speaker N Manohar.

Rain hits protest Hyderabad: The sudden downpour that lashed the city on Tuesday, caused inconvenience to YSR Congress Party honorary president YS Vijayamma and other leaders who are on an indefinite hunger strike at the New MLA quarters. All the leaders including Vijayamma, who sat under the make-shift tent got drenched due to the rain. The staff of the YSRCP office at the dharna site immediately swung into action and removed water logged on the tents until rain stopped. YSRCP is making alternative arrangements by erecting water proof tents to prevent any such problems. As Vijayamma continued her dharna in the rain, doctors conducted medical tests and said that her health was in good condition.