HDK ends fast suddenly on second day

Bangalore - 11 July 2011 (TOI): In a virtual armtwisting,theDeve Gowda familyhad its way,with CMB S Yeddyurappaagreeing to their demands in just a weeks time.

The result: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy ended his two-day fast on Sunday,though he claimed he was doing so bowing to his mothers appeal and the directives of his party.

Last week,JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda made Yeddyurappa meet him to discuss the release of funds for his home turf Hassan district.

Kumaraswamy went on a fast demanding CBI probe into ruling BJPs allegation that he and his family had amassed illegal wealth of Rs 1,500 crore.He ended his fast after extracting an assurance from the CM that he would have a relook into the allegations made.

After he urged him to end the fast and Kumaraswamy agreed,Jnanpeeth awardee U R Ananthamurthy offered him a glass of fruit juice. I am in favour of continuing with the fast.But my party and my mother have been mounting pressure on me to end the fast. I am respecting their sentiments, he said.A team of doctors from Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology warned him against continued fast as his blood pressure and sugar levels fluctuated.

Early in the day, a threemember team comprising home minister R Ashoka,labour minister B N Bachhe Gowda and housing minister V Somanna called on Kumaraswamy and gave him a letter from Yeddyurappa requesting him to call off the strike. Yeddyurappa invited Kumarawamy for talks on the issues raised by him but ruled out a CBI probe. Ashoka said the CM told Kumaraswamy that BJP will decide at an appropriate time on the booklet. He is said to have offered to withdraw the title chargesheet on the booklet released on the alleged Gowda family assets.