Protests, attack on BJP office in Hyderabad in attempt to get Centre to change decision
A day after the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the lok Sabha, Telangana on Saturday observed a complete bandh to protest the legislation that provides for transfer of seven mandals of the newly-created State to Andhra Pradesh to aid the construction of the Polavaram irrigation-cum-hydel power generation project.
The bandh remained by and large peaceful across Telangana but disrupted normal life in most parts as a number of institutions, including educational, remained closed and services hampered. Dharnas, raasta roko and protest rallies were held in different parts of the State demanding the Centre to revisit its decision.
Activists of Telangana Jagruti reportedly even attacked the State BJP headquarters in Hyderabad on Saturday evening following which the police took a number of the outfit’s members into custody.
The day-long bandh was called by the left parties and the Telangana Joint Action Committee (T-JAC) (that spearheaded the separate statehood movement), supported by the TRS and the Congress. Khammam district, where the seven mandals are located, observed a complete bandh with representatives of all parties coming on to the streets to enforce the bandh.
T-JAC representatives and political party workers burnt an effigy of the Central Government at RTC Cross roads in the city. T-JAC chairman Prof Kodandaram said the Centre was trying to suppress the rights of tribal people by passing the Bill. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao strongly criticised the BJP-led NDA Government over the legislation, calling it “undemocratic and unethical” and threatening to take legal recourse.
In New Delhi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, however, said there was no violation of the Constitution in passing of the Bill. He said that in consultations with all the parties in the Business Advisory Committee of the House, two hours time was allotted for a discussion but the atmosphere in the House was vitiated with some members trooping into the well of the House and shouting. He said a proper discussion would have enabled the Government to give a full account of the circumstances of issuing the ordinance and introduction of the Amendment Bill.
He maintained that the proposed transfer of some villages to Andhra Pradesh was meant to rehabilitate the people of areas likely to be submerged by the Polavaram project and this issue should not be politicised.
While the railway services remained undisturbed, bus services of the State Road Transport Corporation were partially affected. Reports suggested bandh was total in Warangal with the closure of petrol pumps, banks and other establishments. The bandh was peaceful in Karimnagar district.
Criticising the passage of the Bill in the lok Sabha, the CPI(M) Telangana Secretary Thamineni Veerabhadram alleged that interests of big investors was being served in the name of protecting farmers of Andhra Pradesh.
The said Bill paves the way for transfer of several villages of Khammam district of Telangana to Andhra Pradesh and replaces an earlier Ordinance. It was passed amid protests by the TRS, the BJD and other parties. The TRS, the ruling party in Telangana, is vehemently opposed to the transfer of villages. The CPI(M) and other left parties, too, are opposed to the multi-purpose project, saying it would lead to submergence of tribal habitations.
The long-pending irrigation-cum-hydel power generation project, spread over several districts and envisaged more than three decades back, has been given national status, providing Centre’s financial assistance and facilitation.
The multi-crore project, which also seeks to provide water for drinking and industrial purposes, is to come up in Polavaram mandal of Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district.