By IANS,
Hyderabad : With the movement for separate Telangana state taking a violent turn, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhara Rao ended his ‘fast unto death’ at a hospital in Andhra Pradesh’s Khammam town Monday evening.
Rao, who was arrested Sunday near Karimnagar town while he was heading to Siddipet in Medak district for launching the “final battle” for separate state of Telangana, was offered fruit juice by his party workers to break his indefinite period fast.
KCR, as TRS chief is popularly known, was shifted to hospital from Khammam sub-jail as his condition started deteriorating due to the fast.
The TRS leader, who on Sunday was sent to jail for 14 days, had refused to take food, and said he would continue the fast for an indefinite period to achieve separate state.
KCR, however, told a television channel that he decided to call off the fast to save the lives of innocent people who were either committing suicide or clashing with police on the streets.
“I have been informed that today (Monday) four to five people committed suicide. I request people with folded hands not to commit suicide,” he said.
Voicing concern over the violence on the campuses of universities in the region, the TRS chief appealed to students not to clash with people or resort to violence. “This is not our path and our fight is not against policemen. They are only employees and are executing the directives of policy makers,” he said.
“Ever since we launched the movement not a single incident of violence had taken place. The government should learn a lesson and address the issue on top priority,” he said.
KCR said he would soon announce the future course of action to achieve the goal of separate statehood to Telangana which comprises 10 districts, including Hyderabad.
The TRS chief called off his fast after the day-long shutdown to protest his arrest paralysed normal life in the region.
For the second consecutive day, Telangana was rocked by angry protests and violence by the party cadre and students.