Telangana region observed a complete shutdown on Thursday in protest against the reported move of the Central Government to form a larger Rayala Telangana State.
The general strike called by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, BJP, CPI(M) and Telangana leaders of the Congress brought the normal life to a grinding halt in Hyderabad and other nine districts of the region. The pro-Telangana parties and groups have strongly rejected the idea of Rayala Telangana, comprising of 10 districts of Telangana and two districts of Rayala Seema.
With the Telangana employees of Road Transport Corporation (RTC) also joining the strike, thousands of buses remain confined to the depots across the region and roads wore a deserted look. Mahatma Gandhi bus stand in Hyderabad, Asia’s biggest bus station wore a deserted look as the operations were crippled. Buses also did not operate from other important bus stations like Kothi, Abids, Mehdipatnam and Secunderabad.
The district bus service was also paralysed putting thousands of passengers to hardship. The private schools and other educational institutions were closed as professional colleges organisation also supported the strike. Petro bunks and other commercial establishments and shops were also closed.
Coal production was also hit as the workers stayed away from mining operations in Adilabad, Karimnagar and Khammam districts. TRS revived its agitation for “total Telangana” State after a spate of media reports suggesting that the Group of Ministers and the Central Government were seriously considering the proposal of Rayala Telangana instead of the earlier proposal of Telangana State.
The GoM has already finalised its report and sources say that it had made only one recommendation favouring Rayala Telangana. However, the final decision will be taken by the Union Cabinet which will be meeting in New Delhi later on Thursday evening. There are reports that the draft Bill on Telangana will be referred to Andhra Pradesh legislative Assembly on December 7 for its consideration. The State Cabinet has decided to convene the Assembly’s Winter Session from December 12.
Angered and dismayed over the new turn of events Telangana supporters held demonstrations all over the region. In Mehubnagar, workers of the TRS, BJP and the CPI took out bike rallies shouting slogans against Rayala Telangana idea. Advocates also organised a protest demonstration.
Tension prevailed when the TRS and BJP workers tried to block the way of MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi near Jahangir Peeran Dargah near Kottur. The police took the protesters into custody. The MIM had made the proposal for the formation of Rayala Telangana. Similar protests were also organised in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Medak, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda and Khammam.
In Hyderabad, Osmania University Campus was rocked by violent incidents. Students tried to take out a procession from the campus to Martyrs memorial. When police stopped them at the campus gates, infuriated students pelted stones. The police lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Students also tried to burn the barricades.
The BJP organised a protest at the RTC X roads and blocked the road. The police arrested State BJP president G Kishan Reddy and senior party leader Bandaru Dattatreya among others. Telangana Advocates Joint action Committee organised a protest demonstration at the Nampally Court complex. They also boycotted the courts.
Senior TRS leader T Harish Rao, who led the sit-in protest at RTC bus depot in Siddipet said that the idea of Rayala Telangana was not acceptable to the people of the region.