Hyderabad, Dec 1 (IANS) Facing the ire of people over abruptly ending his “fast unto death”, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhara Rao Tuesday said he was continuing his hunger strike and was ready to sacrifice his life for the cause of a separate state of Telangana.
Rao, who broke the fast Monday evening, claimed he was forcibly administered a saline drip and that he had not taken any thing since Monday night. The Mahbubnagar MP, who is in judicial custody, is in the government-run hospital in Khammam town.

KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known, told reporters at the hospital that he would continue the fast at any cost and would call it off only if the government agreed to carving out a separate Telangana state.

“I will continue the battle till the last drop of my blood,” he said, appealing to people not to believe rumours.

Tension prevailed at the hospital as KCR fell down during a scuffle between TRS leaders and policemen. He demanded that he be taken to the court and entered into an argument with police officials, who turned down his demand.

The local court rejected KCR’s plea that he be shifted out of the sub-jail in Khammam district. He reiterated the demand when Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and Director General of Police Girish Kumar spoke to him over phone.

TRS ideologue Jayashankar told reporters in Khammam that KCR would continue his fast and there was no need for any doubts. “He is ready to sacrifice his life. He will not seek bail,” he said.

Jayashankar added that the TRS activists wanted KCR to be shifted from Khammam to some other jail in Telangana as Khammam has more anti-Telangana forces. TRS leaders in Hyderabad threatened to lay siege to the chief minister’s residence if he was not shifted out of Khammam.

KCR’s daughter Kavita moved the state human rights commission, alleging that he was manhandled by the police.

KCR was shifted to hospital from the Khammam sub-jail Monday evening after his condition deteriorated. He launched the fast Sunday soon after he was arrested near Karimnagar town.

The TRS leader was sent to jail for 14 days when he was heading to Siddipet in Medak district to launch whatb he termed as his “fast unto death”.

His arrest sparked violent protests by TRS activists, students and other pro-Telangana sections across the region, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad. The shutdown the TRS called Monday had paralysed normal life in the region.

At least three people committed suicide while two others were battling for life after attempting self-immolation to protest KCR’s arrest.

KCR Monday evening broke his fast saying he was doing this to prevent further loss of lives. A doctor offered him fruit juice in the presence of some party leaders.

However, his move evoked angry reactions, especially amongst students who had been staging violent protests on the campuses of the Osmania University here and the Kakatiya University in Warangal.

They burnt his effigy and alleged that KCR had betrayed the Telangana cause. Revolutionary balladeer Gaddar demanded that KCR apologise to the people of the region for the betrayal.