Jagan begins 7-day fast on fee reimbursement issue

Former Congress member of Parliament Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday started a seven-day fast in Hyderabad demanding that the Andhra Pradesh government release funds for the tuition fees reimbursement scheme.

Jagan began the fast at Indira Park around noon in the presence of thousands of students and other supporters. The hunger strike was attended by 11 members of the legislative assembly -- N Prasannakumar Reddy, Makapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, Balnagi Reddy, Konda Surekha, P Subash Chandra Bose, Srikant Reddy, Adinarayana Reddy, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, G Babu Rao, K Rami Reddy and Amarnath Reddy -- loyal to him.

The managements of professional colleges have threatened to shut down the institutions from February 24 following failure of the talks with the state government for release of at least 50 per cent of the Rs 3,500 crore towards fee reimbursement. The government is ready to release Rs 1,000 crore for the purpose.

Jagan has held hunger strikes earlier on various issues like demanding higher compensation for farmers hit by heavy rains, alleged adverse fallout of the verdict of Krisha river water disputes tribunal among others. His fast in Delhi over the verdict of Krishna water disputes tribunal created a sensation, as it was attended by about 25 Congress MLAs.