Taking a U-turn on the Sakala Janula Samme, the general strike demanding a separate Telangana state, ministers from the region on Saturday asked employees' unions to withdraw the strike.
Talking to reporters at the Chief Minister's camp office, Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy appealed to the striking unions to withdraw the strike considering the inconvenience that the strike has been causing to the general public.
He said that the strike, which entered its 33rd day on Saturday, has been obstructing welfare programs and the development of the region, and that it must be withdrawn immediately.
Jana Reddy praised the employees' JAC and other pro-Telangana groups for organising a successful campaign that forced both the state and Central governments to start the consultations process to resolve the Telangana issue.
Stating that the Congress High Command has recognised the agitation, he expressed hope that it would prompt a decision in favour of a Telangana state.
Earlier, ministers from the Telangana region had a meeting at Jana Reddy's residence to review the situation that arose due to the general strike.
The ministers, including B Saraiah, J Geetha Reddy, P Sabita Indira Reddy and K Sreedhar Babu, discussed the future strategy to be adopted. However, they decided against the continuation of the general strike.
Later, they met with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at his camp office and briefed him about their decision. (INN)