Alleging that the Andhra Pradesh Government resorted to repressive measures during the 'chalo assembly' march, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has called for a Telangana shutdown on Saturday in protest against the arrest of its workers.
Scores of pro-Telangana activists were yesterday taken into custody by the police as they tried to defy prohibitory orders to participate in the 'chalo assembly' protest in different parts of the city
Unprecedented security arrangements were made in and around Hyderabad yesterday to thwart the proposed 'chalo assembly' march by pro-Telangana groups to the assembly.
Pressing their demand for statehood for Telangana, political parties including TRS, BJP and CPI and several other organisations announced support to the agitation.
Large contingents of central paramilitary including the Rapid Action Forces (RPF) and the Border Security Forces (BSF) were deployed in all important areas to prevent agitators from reaching the assembly building. Section 144 was imposed in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
All roads leading to assembly, which is situated at the heart of Hyderabad, were been blocked and traffic was diverted.
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The state government had declared holiday in all schools and colleges today.
Congress MPs from Telangana have accused the Centre of following what they call a "one-step-forward-two-backward" approach when it comes to addressing their demand for a separate state.
The Centre's flip-flop over the issue began in December 2009 when the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram promised the formation of a new state only to go back on it after a few days. The issue was later pushed before a committee headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna.
This panel did not come up with a tangible solution, but instead presented six options. These included the creation of a Telangana Regional Council within Andhra, bifurcation of the state into Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital and Seemandhra with a new capital; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana after making Hyderabad a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana with enlarged Hyderabad metropolis as a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Rayala Telangana and Coastal Andhra; and maintenance of status quo.