Delhi: Congress MPs, MLAs attend Jagan's fast

In what could be a major embarrassment for the Congress, at least 20 party Members of Legislative Assembly, two Members of Parliament and 2 Members of Legislative Council were on Tuesday present at former party MP Jaganmohan Reddy's one-day fast in Delhi.

The former Congress leader is holding the fast to protest the 'injustice' meted out to Andhra Pradesh in the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal award.

Jagan, who had announced his plans to launch a new party, is on a fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi along with his supporters, including two Congress MPs Sabbam Hari and Rajamohan Reddy, and at least 20 Congress MLAs.

Leaders from other political parties in Andhra Pradesh were also present at the dharna site. Two MLAs from film-star-turned-politician Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party -- Shoba Naga Reddy and K Rama Reddy also attended the fast. Telugu Desam Party's Bal Naga Reddy and Prassana Kumar Reddy were also present to support Jagan. The protestors chanted the slogans 'farmers' right, Andhra Pradesh fight' and 'our water our right'.

Former TRS MLC Rehman was also present at the site of the dharna besides former state ministers Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and Surekha. The protest is being held under the banner of 'Jal Deeksha'. The former Congress MP from Kadapa, who had resigned from the party in November, arrived in Delhi on Monday night by a special train along with his supporters and farmers.

The 38-year-old son of former AP chief minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had quit the Congress on November 29, 2010 alleging 'humiliation' by the party high command. The objective of the fast is to highlight the plight of farmers, who suffered heavily due to cyclones, untimely rains and floods over the last one year. Jagan is also protesting against the possible adverse impact of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal on the state.

In December, Jagan held a 48-hour fast at Vijayawada to demand a hike in the compensation announced by the government for the rain-hit farmers. Political parties in Andhra Pradesh are not happy with the Krishna Tribunal Award and claim that the state will now have to be at the mercy of upper riparian state Karnataka.

They had said the award was a 'big blow' as Andhra Pradesh has lost 'total right' over the utilisation of surplus water.