BCY chief Bode Ramachandra Yadav calls off hunger strike

Vijayawada: Bharatha Chaitanya Yuvajana (BCY) party chief Bode Ramachandra Yadav called off hunger strike on Tuesday after doctors and BC organisations urged him to end the fast due to his deteriorating health. Yadav, who started his indefinite fast on April 11, said the withdrawal was only a pause and asserted that the struggle for BC rights would continue as a ‘dharma yuddham'. On the fourth day of the fast, party workers and supporters took to the streets in protest over the state govt's silence over Yadav's demands. Police arrested some of the party workers as the situation became tense at the fast venue.Yadav criticised the state govt and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for going back on promises made to BCs. with five demands, seeking fulfilment of assurances made to backward classes when the Telugu Desam Party was in the Opposition.He alleged that there was no response from the govt and accused both the ruling coalition and opposition YSRCP of lacking commitment towards BCs. Yadav alleged that Amaravati and Polavaram projects were being used as ATMs by the ruling coalition. He claimed that he has all the evidence and soon will submit a representation to the Governor over the irregularities in land allotments in Amaravati. Leaders from BC, Kapu and other organisations from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana extended solidarity to the deeksha and appealed to Yadav to safeguard his health while continuing the movement through other means.