Permit "Chalo Assembly" rally, demands Shankar Rao

Former Minister Dr P Shankar Rao on Thursday demanded that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy permit the Chalo Assembly rally proposed to be held on Friday.

Talking to reporters at Assembly media point here, Shankar Rao alleged that the State Government was trying to suppress the demand for separate Telangana using police force. However, he said that democratic protests could not be stopped with force. He said that by using excessive force, the government was trying to instill fear among the pro-Telangana activists and leaders.

Accusing the government of working under the influence of Seemandhra leaders, Shankar Rao said that by not permitting the Chalo Assembly rally, the Chief Minister was trying to bring disrepute to the Congress party.