Telangana body to observe bandh to protest police harassment

Hyderabad, Feb 2 (PTI) Alleging that statehoodsupporters are being harassed by police during Chief MinisterN Kiran Kumar Reddy''s visits for the ''Rachabanda'' programme,the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (JAC) todaysaid it will observe bandh during his visits.

"Telangana supporters are being subjected toharassment by police during the Chief Minister''s visits inconnection with the ''Rachabanda'' (village junction) programme.

So, we will observe during his visits in the region -Nizamabad and Adilabad on February 5 and Warangal and Medak onFebruary 9," JAC Convener M Kodandaram told reporters here.

Alleging that ''Rachabanda'' is an attempt to dilute theTelangana issue, TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao had calledfor its boycott and asked people to drive away ruling Congressleaders who come to attend the programme.

As per the call, the TRS workers and other Telanganasupporters were holding protests and tried to spoil theprogramme, which often triggered tension, as police resistedthe attempts.

Meanwhile, the JAC has asked its district units togive their feed back on the proposed "non-cooperationmovement" to press for the demand for introduction of a billfor formation of separate Telangana in the Budget session ofParliament.

The "non-cooperation movement" is likely to peakduring the upcoming Budget session of Parliament and alsoState Assembly, Kodandaram said.