By: Indrani Basu
NEW DELHI: Braving the capital’s chill, 37-year-old D Nalini won’t budge from her spot at Jantar Mantar. She’s fasting and it’s seven days running.
The former Andhra deputy superintendent of police (DSP) is not deterred and shows no sign of fatigue. She has vowed not to eat till Telangana gets statehood.
“I resigned from the police on November 1, a black day for us as it is also the formation day of Andhra Pradesh. I had written to chief minister Kiran Kumar on October 9, but I did not get any reply from him. I then wrote to Rahul Gandhi on October 19 as the issue is under the purview of the central government. But, when I received no reply, I submitted my resignation to the DGP. Now, here I am on a fast-unto-death,” said Nalini.
Despite being a mother of two, Nalini is determined to remain committed to the movement. “Ever since my resignation, I have toured 10 districts in Telangana , asking students not to commit suicide. 700 students have committed suicide since December 23, 2009 in demand for a separate state.
Holding a BCom degree and a diploma in films, Nalini has also finished her PGDCA, BEd and MCom first year. She cleared her Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission exam in the first attempt in 2007 and was given the post of DSP on merit, she says. “I have served as DSP for over four years and had once given my resignation in December 9 in 2009. However, the same night P Chidambaram had said that formation of Telangana is being initiated. But two years on, statehood still remains a dream for our people,” she said. [TNN]