Jagan stages day-long fast, sends warning to Congress

The former congressman brings the rishna award protest to Delhi with 20 MLAs

BY Bijay Kumar Singh
Delhi

In a major embarrassment to the Congress party, at least 20 party MLAs, two MPs and two MLCs attended the former congressman Jaganmohan Reddy's one-day fast in Delhi to protest the "injustice" suffered by Andhra Pradesh in the award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal.

The presence of Congress MLAs and MPs is a signal to the Congress party that Jagan could be planning to spilt its Andhra unit.

Addressing his supporters, Jagan issued a veiled threat to the party saying, "Currently, I am doing a favour to the Congress party because if my MLAs resign, the gosvernment in Andhra Pradesh will fall."

Jagan also alleged that Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily is in favour of Karnataka as far as the sharing of the Krishna river waters is concerned.

" Andhra has been let down by the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal. The law minister is working in favour of Karnataka as far as sharing of Krishna water is concerned," he said. Leaders from other political parties were also present at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi where Jagan held his protest, calling it "Jal Deeksha". Two MLAs from Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) - founded by filmstar-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, Shoba Naga Reddy and K Rama Reddy also attended the protest.

Jagan who apparently wanted to become chief minister after his father YSR Reddy's death, had quit the Congress last month.

He had also the criticised the top leadership of the Congress party, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Political parties in Andhra Pradesh are not happy with the Krishna Tribunal award. The opposition in the state, led by Telugu Desam Party has made this a big emotional issue in Andhra Pradesh. By holding the rally in Delhi, Jagan is said to be trying to steal limelight from TDP chief, Chandrababu Naidu.