Barring a minor incident, the Vanta Varpu, a novel form of protest organised under the aegis of Telangana Political Joint Action Committee, passed off peacefully in Hyderabad on Sunday. The one jarring note took place at Narayanguda when the participants in the Vanta Varpu raised slogans against the police after they were told to move to a side of the road.
The novel protest saw thousands of people camping and cooking on the roads across the city, to convey the message that the separate Telangana agitation would be a street fight if the Centre fails to take a decision on the separate Telangana statehood demand.
Participating in the protest progrmmae along with his family at Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital at Banjara Hills, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao called upon all Telangana Congress leaders to resign from their elected posts in order to mount pressure on the Centre to make an announcement on the separate statehood demand.
KCR assured the Congress leaders that the people of the region will re-elect those who resign for the cause of Telangana. “You would be re-elected with a thumping majority,” he promised. KCR added, “the TPJAC and students would extend cooperation and work for your re-election in Telangana, if you resign for the sake of separate statehood. You must remember that Telangana will only become a reality through sacrifices.”
The TRS chief demanded that the Congress stands by the December 9, 2009 statement made by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and respect the people’s aspirations and sentiments. He asked the Centre not to play games with Telangana people on the emotional issue.
“As part of agitation, the Telangana leaders would stage hunger fasts and protests to mount pressure on the Centre,” KCR promised. Telangana Jagruthi president K Kavitha also participated in the programme along with women. They cooked food and then had their lunch on the roads.
Telangana Political Joint Action Committee convener Kodandaram was seen participating in the programme at Gun Park and at the HUDA Complex in Tarnaka as well. He told media persons that the response to the Vanta Varpu was overwhelming.
Prof Kodandaram disclosed that a large number of employees, women and youth participated in the programme. “The programme passed off peacefully despite the intent of the police and government to obstruct it,” he said. The Telangana spearhead too advised the Congress leaders from the region to resign from their elected posts if the party fails to make an announcement on Telangana state.
Prof Kodandaram added that the TPJAC activists would picket the state capital as part of agitation until the Centre make its stand clear on Telangana. TRS Floor Leader Etela Rajender participated at Alwal, Medak MP Vijaya Shanthi, actor Suman and MLA Harish Rao participated at Hi Tech City, Madhapur, MLA K T Rama Rao took part at Mythrivanam, Telangana Journalists Forum prepared dishes at Panjagutta while Telangana Doctors JAC prepared dishes at Clock Tower, Secunderabad. The Vanta Varpu programme was organised at about 4,000 places in the city.