Warning that he would intensify the agitation for separate statehood if the Centre does not announce a decision following the submission of Legislators’ resignations, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday called for a two-day bandh across Telangana as part of the strategy to further corner the Centre.
Talking to media persons after emerging out of Telangana Political Joint Action Committee steering committee meeting held at TNGO Bhavan in Nampally, the TRS chief stated that the Telangana region would become a hotbed for agitations if the Centre does not take a favourable decision on the issue. As part of the intensified agitations, KCR called for 48-hour bandh on July 5 and 6 in the region. He also called upon students in region to organize massive rallies across the village, mandal and district level on July 7. KCR expressed confidence that formation of separate Telangana would be possible when all leaders, cutting party lines come on a single platform. Demanding that the Centre announce immediate steps for the formation of separate Telangana, the TRS chief appealed to the Centre to honour its promise made on December 9, 2009. “Do not test the patience of Telangana people,” he stated. The TRS chief added that a 48-hour Rail Roko would be organized on July 8 and 9, paralysing rail traffic and on July 10, the Vanta Varpu, where the roads would be turned into open kitchens, would be organized across Telangana, except in Hyderabad. He sought the cooperation of all employees, labour unions, business and trading community and students for the agitations. “The agitations would be intensified until the Centre announces a roadmap for Telangana state formation,” the TRS chief said. Hailing the resignations of Legislators for the cause of Telangana, TPJAC convenor M Kodandaram said that it is the turning point in the statehood agitation. Prof Kodandaram added that those who did not submit their resignations would be seen as traitors of Telangana. Meanwhile, Minister Komatireddy Venkatreddy, the CPM party and suspended Telugu Desam Party leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy extended their solidarity to the agitations announced by KCR. Earlier, KCR went to Indira Park and extended solidarity to ‘Ekta Deeksha’ launched by Mr Janardhan Reddy.