48-hour fast by Telangana Congress leaders

HYDERABAD: Having failed to get any concrete response from the Centre following their en masse resignations in support of a separate state, Telangana Congress leaders have decided to undertake a 48-hour fast on July 13 and 14 at the Nampally exhibition groundsThis would be followed by a one-day hunger strike at all mandal headquarters across Telangana on July 18.At the meeting convened by the Telangana Congress leaders,who had recently quit their posts, at the Nampally exhibition grounds on Monday, it was decided to constitute a coordination committee comprising 14 members with minister K Jana Reddy and Rajya Sabha member K Keshava Rao as its coordinators and minister B Saraiah as its convenor.The committee would persuade those public representatives who had not resigned their posts and chalk out future course of action.It is learnt that the Telangana Congress leaders were also contemplating a public meeting here by mobilising people from all the 10 Telangana districts soon.Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Jana Reddy, Keshava Rao and others have informed that the proposed 48-hour hunger strike would commence at the exhibition grounds at 9 a.m. on July 13 and end at 9 a.m. on July 15. All the Congress public representatives who had resigned to their posts would take part in the fast. “We are registering our protest for the cause, but are not leaving  the party. We are striving to convince the party high command in a democratic way. Our struggle will continue till Telangana state is formed,’’ they asserted.On this occasion, Jana Reddy and Keshava Rao warned a section of the press which was indulging in ‘false propaganda and criticism’ against them. “We will approach the Press Council of India if need be,’’ they warned.