Hyderabad: The TJAC has decided to intensify its agitation against the Centre with the slogan “Congress Ko Khatam Karo Telangana Hasil Karo.” Stating this after the steering committee meeting on Monday, TJAC chairman Prof Kodandaram said that they would hold Chalo Assembly programme during the budget session of the House and would also block national highways leading to Kurnool and Vijayawada.
Expressing satisfaction over the peaceful end to the 36-hour Samara Deeksha which was launched on Sunday protesting against the delaying tactics of the Centre in carving a separate state, Prof Kodandaram said that this should come as an eye-opener for the police as well as the administration which gave false reports that the Deeksha would turn violent.
Emphasising on the need for united action, he said this was not the time to fight among themselves but to target the rivals. He lashed at the Congress representatives from the region for their non-commitment towards the issue. “It has been proved once again that Congress is least bothered about the sentiments of the people of Telangana” and asked the activists to take up agitations targeting Congress party and its leaders. He called upon the elected representatives of the Congress (Ministers, MLAs, MPs) to tender their resignations forthwith and join the agitation.
“They should also declare their future course of action for the separate statehood cause. If the Congress leaders fail to leave the party they should be socially boycotted. Neither should they be invited nor should people attend programmes in which Congressmen participate. Posters requesting the Congress leaders not to come to their villages should be placed wherever possible,” TJAC chairman said.
They would extensively tour the constituencies represented by Congress besides undertaking ‘public shaming’ activities such as burning of their effigies, performing last rites etc. He said an extended steering committee meeting would be held in the next two to three days to chalk out the action plan.
The interesting part of the Deeksha was that the leaders of the TJAC and Telangana political parties such as TRS, BJP and CPI-ML (New Democracy) and others sat at Indira Park throughout the Sunday night. They listened to speeches and cultural programmes. Kodandaram said they wanted to extend the Deeksha beyond the 6 pm deadline given by the police, but on the advise from elders like Chukka Ramaiah, they decided to end the fast.
Indira Park was filled to the brim with Telangana supporters turning up in large numbers at the venue from Monday morning. The crowd swelled into thousands after hearing about the arrival of TRS chief, K Chandrasekhar Rao, who was set to give the concluding speech at the Deeksha.
There were several scuffles between students and police at the main entrance point of the Indira Park. In view of the call given by the Telangana student organizations to conduct a protest rally from Indira Park to Gun Park near the State Assembly, police personnel obstructed students from entering the venue. This forced them to get into altercations resulting in scuffles between the two sides.
However, senior leaders intervened and tensions eased out. With less than an hour to go for conclusion of the meeting, students and police personnel were once again engaged in a fight. However, with the police showing restraint normalcy was soon restored. {Source: The Hans India}