On the 16th of February, Palla Srinivasa Rao, a member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was admitted to a private hospital by Gajuwaka Police.
According to sources, Mr. Rao was on hunger strike and was protesting against the privatisation of the years old Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
However, after six days of hunger strike, Palla Srinivasa Rao’s health started being affected. Due to his deteriorating health, he was shifted to Krishi Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) ICON Hospital in Andhra Pradesh.
However, he denied to visit the hospital and said to continue his hunger strike/fast until his demands are met.
The situation led to a mild tension in the Gajuwaka area, giving tension to the other protestors.
Concerned with the situation and Mr. Rao’s health, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the National President of the TDP is likely to visit Visakhapatnam today, the 16th of February.
Meanwhile, many TDP supporters and leaders are continuing the hunger strike raising slogans, Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku’, ‘Jai Palla.’
The indefinite hunger strike of the TDP started from the 10th of February, against the privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. It would continue until the Central Government withdraws their decision and announces the plant to be under the public sector instead of a private sector.
