Hyderabad: Telangana region observed a complete shutdown on Thursday in protest against the reported move of the central government to form a larger Rayala Telangana state.
The general strike called by Telangana Rashtra Samiti, BJP, CPIM and Telangana leaders of Congress party brought everyday life to a grinding halt in Hyderabad and nine other districts in the region.
The pro-Telangana parties and groups have strongly rejected the idea of Rayala Telangana, comprising ten districts of Telangana and two districts of Rayalaseema.
With the Telangana employees of Road Transport Corporation (RTC) also joining the strike, thousands of buses remain confined to depots across the region and roads wore a deserted look.
Mahatma Gandhi bus stand in Hyderabad, Asia’s biggest bus station, was unusually quiet as operations were crippled. Buses also did not operate from other important bus stations like Kothi, Abids, Mehdipatnam and Secunderabad.
The district bus service was also paralysed, putting thousands of passengers to great hardship.
Private schools and other educational institutions were also closed as professional colleges and organisations also supported the strike. Petrol pumps and other commercial establishments and shops were also closed.
TRS revived its agitation for a “total Telangana” state after a spate of media reports suggested that the Group of Ministers and the central government were seriously considering the proposal of Rayala Telangana instead of the earlier proposal of Telangana state.
The GOM has already finalised its report and sources say that it had made only one recommendation favouring Rayala Telangana. However, the final decision will be taken by the Union Cabinet, which will be meeting in New Delhi later on Thursday evening.
There are reports that the draft bill on Telangana will be referred to Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly on December 7 for its consideration. The state cabinet has decided to convene the assembly’s winter session from December 12.
Angered and dismayed over the new turn of events Telangana supporters held demonstrations all over the region.
Tension prevailed when TRS and BJP workers tried to block the way of MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi near Jahangir Peeran Dargah near Kottur. The police took the protestors into custody. MIM had made the proposal for the formation of Rayala Telangana state.
Similar protests were also organised in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Medak, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda and Khammam.
In Hyderabad, Osmania University Campus was rocked by violent incidents. Students tried to take out a procession from the campus to Martyrs memorial. When police stopped them at the campus gates, infuriated students pelted stones. The police lobbed tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Students also tried to burnt the barricades.
BJP organised a protest at the RTC X roads and blocked the road. The police arrested the state BJP president G Kishan Reddy and senior party leader Bandaru Dattatreya and various others.
Telangana Advocates Joint action Committee organised a protest demonstration at the Nampally Court complex. They also boycotted the courts.
Senior TRS leader T Harish Rao, who led the sit in protest at RTC bus depot in Siddipet said that the idea of Rayala Telagnana was not acceptable to the people of the region.
“Rayala Telangana is part of a conspiracy to ensure that Krishna river waters continue to flow to Andhra. Some politicians want to continue their land grabbing and land dealings in Hyderabad and plunge Telangana into faction feuds”, he said.
“All the sections of Telangana people have participated in the strike voluntarily. At least now the GOM should open its eyes and withdraw the proposal of Rayala Telangana”, he said.
At the Narayanguda X Roads area, state CPI secretary K Narayana burnt the effigy of the central government and condemned it for playing with the lives of the people.
Meanwhile, Telangana Joint Action Committee leaders continued their last minute lobbying in New Delhi. The delegation led by Prof Kodanda Ram met senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader and union minister Ajit Singh to urge them to stall the Rayala Telangana proposal.
Ajit Singh later told the media that he did not agree with the idea of Rayala Telangana as there were cultural differences between the Telangana and Rayalaseema regions.
Kodanda Ram said that Sushma Swaraj assured them that the BJP will support only Telangana state proposal. “We sought her help in ensuring that the Telangana bill was moved in Parliament during the winter session itself”, he said.
Meanwhile, the union minister and a member of GOM Gulam Nabi Azad appears to be distancing himself from the idea of Rayala Telangana. According to sources, he told the other members of GOM that Rayala Telangana should be pursued only if the Andhra Pradesh Assembly unanimously supports it. “Otherwise it will open a Pandora’s box”, he told the other members.
