If the original plans to lay siege to Hyderabad with one crore people through the ‘March of Millions’ later termed as ‘Millennium March’ and then finally called as Million March are taken as a yardstick, the event was an utter flop, with about one lakh people converging on the Tank Bund on Thursday.
But considering the effort put in by the police and the administration to thwart the March, the number of people managing to assemble at the Tank Bund, not to mention the presence of the man credited of spearheading the Telangana statehood agitation and infusing a new life in it through his fast-unto-death, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao, the event was a success for all intents and purposes.
The sheer effort put in by the police department just to ensure that the ‘March’ flops ironically ensured its success. This can be said because the March by itself accomplished the purpose it was designed for, that is to bring the Telangana statehood demand to the notice of the Centre.
Notwithstanding the tough posture adopted by the government, the pro-Telangana agitators backed by KCR and Telangana Jagruthi leader Kavitha among others, converged as pre-planned at the Tank Bund.
What they claimed as a success in terms of numbers, was far from truth as only thousands reached the Tank Bund hoodwinking the men in uniforms.
Several leaders courted arrest, including Nayani Narasimha Reddy, T Harish Rao, Prof Kodandaram, K Taraka Rama Rao. BJP leader Ch Vidyasagar Rao and TDP MLA Y Dayakar Rao were held at Basheer Bagh.
The TDP Legislators from Telangana and the TRS MLAs had organised a padayatra in support of the 'March' while Congress MPs Madhu Yaskhi Goud and K Keshava Rao had a bitter experience at the rally when they tried to identify with the milling crowds.
The March 10 rally resembled more like an undeclared war between the Telangana agitators and the police forces as the stubborn TJAC leadership swore to organise the Million March, while the police tried its utmost to thwart their designs by hook or crook. In the process, life came to a standstill in the heart of the city.
The otherwise picturesque Tank Bund was almost under siege. It remained cordoned off by the CISF and CRPF men in thousands. Besides, 6 RAF Companies (540), 8 APSP battalions ( 4000 men), 3500 paramilitary, 9000 policemen from Cyberabad 000, 12,000 from Hyderabad Commissionerate and 55 check-posts manned by 330 men were deployed in the city.
The twin cities looked like a battlefield with most of the nerve centres barricaded and picketed by the forces.
In this backdrop, the students were expected to take the scheduled exam but the 'March' had its own effect on the anxious parents and tension ridden students.
Those living in the busy Malakpet, Abids, Nampally, Basheer Bagh, Kacheguda, Koti, Himayathnagar, Chikkadapally, Musheerabad, Tarnaka and other places received a jolt under the impact with no 'means' to reach their exam centres in view of massive traffic and security curbs imposed ahead of the March.
The plight of the commoner and the vehicle-borne commuters must be seen to be believed. The MMTS trains were cancelled as a protective measure. Sensing danger, the business establishments downed their shutters, giving the city a curfew-like atmosphere.
The event gave an impression that an Egypt like situation was repeated here as the Telangana protagonists were dead set to take part in the 'March' courting arrest at several places.
Statues of Pingali Venkiah, Palanati Brahmiah, Yerrapragada, Annamiah were damaged by the miscreants on the Tank Bund.
As the prohibitory orders were in force, the Osmania University campus once again presented riotous scenes when the students made their move to proceed towards tank bund.
The police entered the campus and compelled the violent students to return using all sorts of methods including lathi-charge.