VIJAYAWADA: TDP Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh CM Ramesh, who was on an indefinite fast demanding setting up of integrated steel plant in Kadapa as assured in the AP Reorganisation Act, ended his 11-day hunger strike after AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assured that the state government will set up the steel plant on its own, if the Centre fails to honour the assurances made in the APRA.
Ramesh along with TDP MLC M Ravindranath Reddy (popularly known as B Tech Ravi) sat on a hunger strike demanding setting up of steel plant in Kadapa. A couple of days back, police foiled the fast of B Tech Ravi as his health condition deteriorated.
On Saturday, Chandrababu Naidu visited the fast-unto-death camp of Ramesh where he lashed out the Centre for failing to render justice to Andhra Pradesh state.
Naidu said that the state government will give two months time for the Centre to take a decision on setting up the steel plant. "If the Centre feels that the project is unviable or involves high amount of investment, AP State will bear 50 percent cost of the project,'' Naidu said adding that the government will form a committee to negotiate with the Centre. Naidu also said that the party will raise the issue in the Parliament.
"If the Centre fails to respond and fulfill the aspirations of the five crore people of Andhra Pradesh, the State government itself would set up the steel plant,'' Naidu announced and appealed to Ramesh to end his fast. Following Naidu's assurance, Ramesh decided to end his fast. Naidu offered a glass of lemon juice to Ramesh and made the latter end his fast.