Veteran freedom fighter and Telangana Freedom Fighters' Forum chairman Konda Lakshman Bapuji, on Tuesday, launched a week-long Satyagraha demanding statehood for Telangana, at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Talking to media persons, the 97-year-old freedom fighter appealed to political parties not to politicize his Satyagraha. He said that he had started his Satyagraha voluntarily, and that he would not seek support from any party.
Bapuji also clarified that he would not join any party but would extend his support for anyone who works with dedication for the statehood agitation.
Appealing to the Centre to honour the promise made by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on 9 December 2009, he demanded that the government introduce a Telangana Bill in the winter session of Parliament, which begins from 22 November.
Bapuji underlined the need for all political parties in the Telangana region to unitedly fight for statehood rather than resorting to vote bank politics.
Apart from Telangana Political Joint Action committee chairman Prof. M Kodandaram, Telangana Praja Front chairman Gaddar and members of the TDP Telangana Forum, including convenor Errabelli Dayakar Rao and other freedom fighters expressed their support to Bapuji's Satyagraha.
Earlier, Bapuji visited Raj Ghat and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. (INN)