Tension is building up in Hyderabad even as the opponents of Telangana State were pressing ahead with their plans for “Save Andhra Pradesh” rally in Hyderabad on Saturday next.
Though the Hyderabad city police have made it clear that no rally will be permitted in the city, AP Non-Gazetted Officers’ Union on Sunday released a poster and said that come what may it will organise the rally at lalbahadur Stadium on September 7. Speaking on the occasion, APNGOs president Ashok Babu said that at least 100,000 people will attend the rally and raise their voice in support of united Andhra Pradesh.
APNGOs represent the Government employees of Seema-Andhra regions and have organised the current indefinite strike by the employees in the two regions paralysing the administration. “People should not only attend the meeting but also contribute Rs 10 per head to the cause of United AP”, he said.
Several other organisations including AP Revenue Service have announced their support to the meeting. All the pro-Telangana organisations including Telangana Joint Action Committee, Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Telangana Congress leaders have warned of dire consequences if any such rally was held in the city against Telangana State.
Senior TRS legislator and former Minister T Harish Rao alleged that the Congress Government in the State was playing a dangerous double game. “It is providing escort to the anti-Telangana rallies on the one hand and arresting the supporters of Telangana on the other. Is this the united AP justice they are talking of,” he wondered.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of unfolding political instability, a State Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that he would meet the Governor and hand over his resignation. “I will urge him to accept it immediately,” he said. Speculation was rife that two other Ministers will also do the same.
Seemandhra leaders, who are opposed to Telangana State, continued their behind-the-scene lobbying to stall the process of bifurcation. Another Minister Shailajanath along with former Ministers JC Diwakar Reddy and Gade Venkat Reddy and two MPs from the region met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and decided to make one more representation to the Congress High Command to keep the State united.