Life came to a standstill in Telangana on the first day of the 48-hour bandh called by Telangana joint action committee (TJAC) demanding introduction of Telangana Bill in Parliament, as all the government and private services were shut. Educational institutions and commercial establishments remained closed. Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation withdrew most of its services in Telangana.
TRS activists blocked railway tracks at Secunderabad, holding up several long distance trains. Several pro-Telangana activists, including members of the ABVP and TJAC convener M Kodandaram, were arrested near the university when they took out rallies supporting the bandh.
Telangana activists raised walls across NH-7 near Mancherial in Adilabad and had community lunch at Maganur in Mahabubnagar.
Priests of temples boycotted the daily rituals and conducted ‘homams’ on roads in Warangal district in support of statehood for Telangana.
In all, 1,978 persons including several TRS, BJP, TDP, CPI and TJAC leaders and activists were taken into custody.
Running of trains was also affected with trains being detained by Telangana supporters at Mahabubnagar (4), Karimnagar and Adilabad (3 each), Warangal and Ranga Reddy (2 each) and Medak and Nizamabad (1 each).
Coal production to the tune of 1.5 lakh tonnes was hit in Singareni as 65,000 workers went off the work in 36 underground and 140 opencast mines.
Production worth about Rs. 500-crore was affected as about 8,000 industrial units in and around Hyderabad were closed.
Even the Cyberabad was badly affected. Low turnout of employees was seen in most companies because of the non-availability of public transport. Most of the shops and commercial establishments in and around Cyberabad were shut.
Convenor of TJAC M. Kodandaram said that arrests would not cow down the movement and they would intensify it further if the government continued to suppress the people’s wishes. Bandh call was inevitable as the government was not respecting the people’s sentiments, he explained.
In the Assembly
TRS and TDP MLAs forced adjournment of proceedings of the Assembly twice on Tuesday. TRS members stormed the Speaker’s podium holding placards. They demanded that the suspension of five MLAs be revoked and a resolution on the creation of a separate state be adopted by the House.
The TDP MLAs from Telangana raised a similar demand. Deputy Speaker N Manohar disallowed the adjournment motions, but due to the din he had to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.
In the Parliament
KCR has raised the Telangana issue in the Lok Sabha and demanded that the government introduce a Bill for creating Telangana state immediately in Parliament. The TRS has given notice for an Adjournment Motion on Telangana issue on Tuesday. It was disallowed by the Speaker, Ms Meera Kumar. Then, Mr KCR sought permission of the chair to speak on the issue. Mr Meera Kumar while disallowing his request told him that he could raise the issue during the Zero Hour.
Speaking to the media later, Mr Rao said his party wanted to stage a dharna before the Speaker’s podium on Tuesday, but had postponed it to Wednesday. In the meanwhile, he said that he would discuss about Telangana with parties supporting the cause. He said though he had raised the Telangana issue on Tuesday, he would once again raise it in detail on Wednesday in Parliament.
