Telangana stir to be intensified as Telangana Joint Action Committee strike enters 16th day

HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: The Centre was bracing for an intensification of pro-Telangana agitation. The general strike called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee in support of their demand for a separate state entered its 16th day on Wednesday, and there were indications to suggest that the group was planning to lay siege to the state capital next month.

Pro-Telangana protestors, including those belonging to TRS and BJP, ratcheted up their campaign, organising road blockades at many places across Telangana, causing massive traffic jams for hours together.

Police detained scores of protesters, including TRS and BJP leaders, who blocked traffic at different locations in Hyderabad, as the Sakala Janula Samme (general strike) called by the Telangana JAC entered the 16th day.

TRS legislators KT Rama Rao, Harish Rao, besides several BJP leaders, including former Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, JAC convener M Kodandaram, were among those who were taken into preventive custody for staging 'rasta roko' agitation and disrupting traffic after indulging in altercations with policemen.

"We will lay siege to the city in the second week of next month," said Harish Rao, while leading a protest at Hitec City, the information technology hub here. He was later taken into custody as a preventive measure.

The administration in the region has come to a complete standstill since September 13, when the government employees launched an indefinite strike. According to the JAC, over 800,000 employees are participating in the strike.

Tension prevailed near Mettuguda junction in Secunderabad when police forcibly evicted Rama Rao and his supporters. Rama Rao, son of TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, accused the Centre of not responding to their repeated pleas over the statehood demand.

"The Centre is playing spoilsport. We are requesting the Union government to immediately intervene and come forward and make a statement (for granting Telangana state) to pacify the anger and agitation of the people of the region," he said, and warned that if things spun out of control, resulting in violence, the Centre will be held solely responsible.

Dattatreya was detained near Abids area, while several pro-Telangana advocates were taken into custody after they blocked traffic near Mozamjahi market. Pro-Telangana activists also organised 'rasta roko' agitation across 10 Telangana districts and held demonstrations and tried to forcibly enter the Secretariat in Hyderabad.