Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in and around Hyderabad to thwart the proposed 'Chalo Assembly' march by pro-Telangana groups to the Assembly today.
Pressing their demand for statehood for Telangana, political parties including TRS, BJP and CPI and several other organisations have announced support to the agitation.
Large contingents of central paramilitary including the Rapid Action Forces (RPF) and the Border Security Forces (BSF) have been deployed in all important areas to prevent agitators reaching the Assembly building. Section 144 has been imposed in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
All roads leading to Assembly, which is situated at the heart of Hyderabad, have been blocked and traffic has been diverted. Public transport services have been cancelled. The buses of the state owned Transport Corporation from districts have been stopped at the outskirts of the twin cities.
The State government has 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.
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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.
