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. 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.

Published Date : Wednesday, 23/3/2011 1:27 PM IST