YS Sharmila, leader of the YSR Telangana Party, began indefinite fasting at her residence near Lotus Pond, Hyderabad, after the police denied her request to continue her ‘Padayatra.’
Ms. Sharmila’s mother, YS Vijayamma, wife of the late Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, also sat in the protest on Friday night.
High drama ensued before she began the fast, as police tried to keep her from protesting on the road near Lotus Pond.
Earlier in the day, YS Sharmila tried to protest at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statue on Tank Bund.
Ms. Sharmila is the sister of YS Jagan, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The background
Named ‘Praja Prasthanam,’ Ms. Sharmila’s 4,000 km walk across constituencies was intended to strengthen the newly formed YSR Telangana Party by interacting with the public.
The YSRTP President walked almost 3,500 km for nearly a year until she faced stiff opposition on Nov 28 at Chennaraopet Mandal in Warangal for her comments against a TRS leader.
The ruling party cadre resorted to protests, and a vehicle in Ms. Sharmila’s convoy was burned down.
The next day, YS Sharmila began to drive one of her damaged vehicles to Pragathi Bhavan (Chief Minister’s Residence) to protest the events but was stopped by the police. After she refused to leave the vehicle, the car was towed to SR Nagar police station.