Pro-Telangana protestors go the Gandhian way

As part of their mass non-cooperation movement, nearly four lakh pro-Telangana agitators have put their pens down to demand the creation of a separate state.

Pro-Telangana parties have already dismissed the Shri Krishna Commission report and demanded that a separate bill for the formation of the state should be presented in the budget session of Parliament.

The non-cooperation movement is their latest attempt to turn on the pressure on the central government to introduce the bill.

The Telangana Rastriya Samithi, which is spearheading the protests, has urged all government employees from the region to put their pens down in support of the movement.

"None of the four lakh employees from Telangana region have been working. They will not commence work until the Union government acts on the issue," TRS general secretary Subhash Reddy told rediff.com.

All municipal offices in Hyderabad, as well as the collectorate, have stopped functioning, he said.

"This agitation will continue till the government gives us an assurance. It should either be a bill in the budget session or a concrete assurance regarding this issue. The Congress does not realise that it is committing political suicide by not giving into the demands of the people of Telangana," said a pro-Telangana leader.

Congress members of legislative assembly from Telangana region continue to camp in New Delhi. They have already apprised the party's top leadership about the difficulties in returning to their respective constituencies.

On Thursday, a MLA from the Telugu Desam Party was chased by the protestors and his vehicle burnt at Nizamabad district. Congress legislators fear a similar outburst against them as their party has been dilly dallying over the demand for a separate state.

"Forget winning the regional polls, we can't even go back to our homes in Telangana," is the message the MLAs have conveyed to the Congress top brass.

The state government has adopted a wait and watch policy, as they are confident about having the requisite numbers to stay in power even if the Telangana MLAs withdraw their support. But the Kiran Kumar Reddy-led government is also waiting for the Centre to take a concrete decision about Telangana.

The TRS plans to disrupt the proceedings in the state assembly and also call an indefinite bandh from February 23 to press for their demand.

The more the Congress delays a decision on Telangana, further it alienates the people of the region, warn TRS leaders.