Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu and three other senior leaders called off their six-day-old fast on Tuesday. The decision follows a meeting between Mr. Raghavulu and Ministers P. Satyanarayana and P. Balaraju at Gandhi Hospital where the CPI (M) leaders had been lodged after being shifted from the hunger strike camp, a couple of days ago.
The Ministers who met the CPI (M) leaders at the behest of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy reportedly conceded a few demands and assured that they would convene a meeting of experts on March 25 for discussions on some more demands. Mr. Raghavulu said there were demands on which there was no clarity yet. But he had to call off the fast “to give some time to the government” on the demands it had accepted. “We should also respect the views of intellectuals including some former IAS officers who are with us throughout,” he said.
Mr. Raghavulu and three other leaders S. Veeraiah, Midiam Babu Rao and G. Nagaiah were offered coconut water by party's Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat at the culmination of the party's Chalo Assembly rally.
Addressing a large gathering at the Indira Park, Mr. Raghavulu said the agitation was a partial success. “We consider the government's initiative as a step forward, but are prepared to wage struggles if the government is found wanting in implementation of its assurances,” he said. He faulted the government for its efforts to use force to scuttle protests which was a democratic right of the aggrieved sections. Any attempt to deny people their rights would further strengthen their resolve to intensify their agitations.
The CPI (M), he said, would forthwith work for building of a broader platform involving all stakeholders, including political parties and mass organisations, to take up issues of the common man. The party had no objection to extend its support as and when other parties came forward to champion burning issues. Ms. Karat complimented the party leaders for their struggle which made the government to debate on the problems faced by the SCs and STs in the Assembly. The assurances given by the government indicated a partial success of the agitation and the party should be geared up for taking up more intensive struggles in future.
(Courtesy : The Hindu)
