Telangana activists plan pen down stir

The December 31 deadline for the Sri Krishna Commission to submit its report on the feasibility of carving out Telangana from the Andhra Pradesh is only three days away and the Telangana Employees Association is already planning a major pen down strike.

With ample indication that the report will only spell out the pros and cons of having a separate state, the employees association comprising workers from various sectors such as revenue, electricity boards, commercial tax departments among others will start a non-cooperation movement from January 21, which will be sponsored by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.

TRS General Secretary Subhash Reddy told rediff.com that they are waiting for the report, but that alone was not enough. The TRS has planned a series of agitations to put pressure on the government of India as well as the state government to pass a bill and hand over a statehood status to Telangana.

"The TRS has convinced all employees in Telangana to put their pen downs in order to build pressure on the government to make a decision in favour of Telangana. Our chief K Chandrasekhar Rao is also talking to police personnel to observe a strike," Reddy said.

Once the police are convinced to take part in this movement, the focus would then be on the advocates, who will boycott courts until the demand is met. The TRS is also in talks with the Indian Administrative Service officers from the Telangana region to put their pens down in protest.

"This stir will continue for three weeks starting January 21 and we are hoping this will put enough pressure on the government. In addition to this, we have also convinced the people of Telagana to participate in the non-cooperation movement. In every village, people will put up tents and protest until the government declares statehood," Reddy said.       

Reddy pointed out that the Congress cannot take this matter lightly at least now in the wake of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy breaking away from the party. They realise that they are at a clear disadvantage after this new development. "The only way they can defeat Jagan is by ensuring the leave no stone unturned in the fight for Telangana," he said.