Former Congress MP, YS Jaganmohan Reddy launched his 48-hour 'Lakshya Deeksha, hunger-strike for farmers, on the banks of river Krishna, on Tuesday. On his 37 th birthday, He launched the strike demanding adequate compensation to farmers who lost their crops in heavy rains early this month in the state.

Several MLAs, MLCs, former legislators and some film stars extended support to Jagan, while scores of people from Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and other districts reached the camp site extending their solidarity. In his first show of strength since leaving the Congress party last month, Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy on Tuesday, launched a 48-hour fast along with over 1,00,000 farmers, demanding relief for the crops lost in recent rains.

The former Kadapa MP, who turned 38 on Tuesday, began the fast along with his supporters on the banks of Krishna River near Prakasam Barrage. The son of the late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, reached the site after offering prayers at the Durga temple in the town of Krishna district. Thousands of people thronged to the venue from different parts of State. The young leader garlanded a statue of his father on a massive dais. Several MLAs, MLCs, former legislators and some film stars extended support to Mr. Jagan.

The staunch supporters include, MLAs Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, Jayasudha Kapoor, G. Srikanth Reddy, Konda Surekha. Former TDP supporter & actress Roja, Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam, former ministers Konatala Ramakrishna & Pilli Subash Chandra Bose, NTR's widow Lakshmi Parvathi and others were present on the dias along with Mr. Jagan. Jagan's action, however, has drawn criticism from his uncle and minister for agriculture Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy, who claimed that the package announced by the government for farmers last week was the best in the country.

The move has been largely considered as an effort to redeem himself after his rebellious exit from the Congress party and his public spat with the ruling Kiran Kumar Reddy govt in Andhra Pradesh.

Published Date : Wednesday, 22/12/2010 1:25 PM IST

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