Telangana agitation starts afresh, bandh called

Hyderabad, Feb 13: In the fresh agitation for separate Telangana, students' Joint Action Committee (JAC) has called for a day-long shutdown began in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana region Saturday, Feb 13.

The move came in protest against the reference of the Srikrishna panel on the issue of creating a Telangana issue.

As part of the protest,shops and business establishments were shutdown, and operation of the the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus services in the region were suspended.

The protest was marked by demonstration and blocking of vehicles by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists.

Police said that violence took place in parts of Warangal and Medak districts, as protesters engaged in damaging of buses as well as attacking the offices of the Congress party.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at Osmania University campus, the hub of agitation, as the JAC of students is expected to stage a
protests at the university later in the day.

Meanwhile the 10 legislators of TRS is all set to submit its resignation to the assembly speaker even as the all-party JAC is scheduled to hold a discussion on the en masse resignation later on Saturday, Feb 13.

Earlier, TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara has announced the resignation both MPs, 10 MLAs and the lone MLC, citing displeasure at the terms of reference, 'not favorable to formation of Telangana state'.

However, while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislators are ready to submit their resignation, the ruling Congress party are divided in its decision ot quit.

The Congress has expressed its desire to decide on the issue at the JAC meeting, in which the future course of the agitation will also be decided.

The terms of reference were rejected by JAC convenor M Kodandaram, stating that they were against statement by the central government to initiate the process for formation of separate Telangana on Dec 9, 2009.

On Friday, Feb 12, the Center had announced the seven terms of reference, under which the five-member panel will look into both the demands for separate Telangana state and for maintaining the present status of a united Andhra Pradesh.

Following which the TRS KCR had accused the Center of betraying the people over Telangana.

The first meeting of the committee is scheduled in in New Delhi on Saturday, Feb 13 and is expected to submit its report by Dec 31, 2010.

The bandh call is supported by all-parties JAC.

OneIndia News