Former chief minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday refused to heed pleas by the state government to end his indefinite hunger strike even as his health deteriorated, on the 5th day of his hunger strike. The government's bait of writing an assurance to the centre also failed to entice Naidu to break his fast.
Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences Director P V Ramesh revealed that Naidu's health has deteriorated.
Talking to media persons, the Principal Secretary (Health) said that the percentage of electrolytes in Naidu's body has gone down, and advised him to withdraw his fast immediately considering his health.
Dr. Ramesh said that a 6-member team of doctors, deputed exclusively to look into Naidu's health, was conducting all tests on him regularly every 6 hours.
Meanwhile, taking a serious note on Naidu's condition, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy deputed a Group of Ministers to NIMS under the leadership of health minister D L Ravindra Reddy, home minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and social welfare minister Pithani Satyanarayana.
He directed them to convince Naidu to withdraw his fast and brief him about the measures taken by the state government over the farmers' welfare.
KKR is believed to have told them to tell Naidu that the state government will write a letter to the centre asking for additional funds to increase the relief package announced earlier.
The Group of Minister called on the fasting TDP chief at NIMS at around 4:30pm. They refused to talk to the media after emerging out of the hospital, but reports emerging from the hospital suggest that Naidu is continuing his hunger strike. Sources say that Naidu demanded a 'concrete assurance' from the state government and not promises of pleas to the centre, before he ends his fast.
Meanwhile, senior TDP leaders held an emergency meeting at NTR Bhavan to discuss Naidu's condition and the situation in the state.
Courtesy: INN
filed in:Fasts, Farmers, N Kiran Kumar Reddy, NIMS