By Konatham Dileep
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“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” John F. Kennedy”
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Today morning Rakesh called me from Warangal and told me the state of affairs there. Apparently the police are arresting all active members of political parties, people’s and student organizations. He told me that the police have set up a camp in the bus stand and railway station and are not allowing anyone below 30 years to board a bus or train to Hyderabad. The police were even taking undertakings from people that they would not participate in any rallies or else they will pay a fine.
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Today afternoon I switched on the TV and saw a Superintendent of Police speak about the various ‘precautionary measures’ that the department is taking. These include:
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– preventive detention of activists
– counseling (warning) the parents of students about the dire consequences their children would have to face if they went to Hyderabad to attend the Million March
– warning owners of private vehicles and taxis not to give their vehicles on hire
– warning school and college managements not to give their vehicles for people attending the Million March
– Setting up check posts on state highways to ensure no one travels to Hyderabad to participate in the March
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Today evening our own Police Commissioner addressing the media informs us about the ‘traffic restrictions’ in Hyderabad city. According to him all the roads in and around Tank Bund would be closed.
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By conservative estimates over 1,00,000 people (yes! You read it right. One lakh people) were arrested in 10 districts of Telangana. Of this 11,000 arrests were made in Hyderabad.
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All this to prevent a peaceful rally to a tourist place called Tank Bund in Hyderabad!
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People just want to take a pledge for Telangana in the presence of Lord Buddha – a symbol of peace.
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Representations from TRS, TDP, Congress, BJP, CPI MLAs and scores of peoples, students organizations to the state Chief Minister and Home Minister requesting permission for the Million March rally have fallen on deaf ears.
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While a dictator named Hosni Mubarak allowed lakhs of his citizens to march into Tahrir Square, here is a ‘democratic government’ which is trampling on its citizen’s basic rights.
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Why does this happen only in Telangana?
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It happens because we let it happen.
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And this is the right time to tell our Seemandhra and Delhi rulers that we WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS ANYMORE.
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If you live outside Hyderabad, call your mother, father, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, or a friend who lives in Telangana and ask them to participate in the rally.
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The police might erect barricades and block all routes to Tank Bund or even Hyderabad. But ask your relative/friend to go till that last barricade and register their protest with the police officer or media person there. Ask them to raise ‘Jai Telangana’ slogan and see how people around them respond.
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Life is not about winning, but about making a sincere attempt.
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Let us all make a sincere attempt to participate in the Telangana Million March.
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Long after Telangana state is formed and when we grow old, let us feel proud to tell our grand children that we were a part of the historic Telangana Million March.
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We have seen enough history. For once, let us create it!
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Note: Participants are requested to carry water bottles and also wear caps/hats as the summer temperatures are soaring. The Telangana pledge will take place at 4PM on Tank Bund. Please carry a ‘Jai Telangana’ placard or a national flag with you if possible.