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Schools in Hyderabad Say no to General Strike

Different types of associations are mushrooming up as Telangana agitation has gained momentum since the T-region leaders submitted their en masse resignations. Every association and even individuals are trying to hog limelight by making announcements on their own. There seems to be a lack of co-ordination between the agitating groups. The Telangana Recognised Private Schools Managements' Association (TRPSMA) in Warangal made an announcement on Sunday about the indefinite closure of schools from August 17. This has come as a shock to the managements of private schools in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. Even parents and students in the city were shocked to hear about the move. Surprisingly, the school managements are not aware of the existence of any association called TRPSMA. With the media prominently highlighting the TRPSMA's decision, hundreds of parents and students approached the schools to check whether the decision is applicable for schools in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. Concerned representatives of various schools in the city held consultations in the city and then clarified that they were not a part of any such association nor were they ever consulted on the issue. They said schools in the city would run as usual and they would declare a holiday only if there was a law and order problem on account of bandhs. While about 5,000 private schools in the city are part of Hyderabad Recognised Private Schools Managements’ Association (HRPSMA) and AP Recognised Private Schools Managements’ Association (APRPSMA), about 300 CBSE and ICSE schools in the city have separate bodies representing them. A large number of schools run by prominent corporate groups and international schools are not a part of any association. Even as the schools stated that they have not taken any decision on the closure of schools, they refused to comment on record, anticipating trouble from Telangana agitators.

T-bandh: HC Notice to KCR, Kodandaram

While ordering notices in yet another petition on bandhs and strikes to TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao and Telangana political JAC convenor M Kondandaram, the AP High Court on Monday refused to ban the proposed bandh on Wednesday. The Bench gave the government and the other respondents two weeks time to respond. The Bench ordered the notices while responding to a writ petition filed by Narayana, a resident of Anantapur district. The petitioner contended that no political party could deprive the citizens of their fundamental rights. He said that the central government had been indifferent on the clause 14(f) controversy but the political parties were not entitled to cause inconvenience to the public under the said pretext. PV Krishniah, counsel for the petitioner, insisted on an interim order so that the strike called on Wednesday could be averted. The Bench, however, did not pass any orders on the appeal.

Police Tightens Dragnet Around Million March Vandals

The City Police's Special Investigation Team probing into the incidents of violence during the Million March has prepared a charge sheet against the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the Telangana Joint Action Committee convener, Prof. Kodandaram, the TRS MLAs, Mr Harish Rao and Mr K.T. Rama Rao, and other accused for provoking the crowds on that fateful day. According to the CCS police, the chargesheet against the Telangana leaders and other participants has been sent to the public prosecutor for examination before it is filed in court at Nampally. The SIT is probing around 32 cases related to violence during the Million March where statues of prominent personalities were vandalised. Sources said that the Telangana leaders have been named in three major cases of conspiracy and it has been alleged in the chargesheet that four of them had provoked the crowds and had conspired to commit the offences at Tank Bund and assaulting police officers. Photographic and video evidence has been collected against the accused. Around 54 people had been arrested on March 10 by the Gandhinagar police and the case had been transferred to the CCS. The four leaders had been named as accused in a case booked by the Narayanguda police and the chargesheet relates to that case. The accused, however, were not arrested in the case and the police had decided to instead try them in court. A senior city police official said, “Though the case was booked under stringent provisions of Prevention of Public Property Damage Act, Criminal Law Amendment Act, unlawful assembly, rioting and criminal conspiracy, only charges of conspiracy and unlawful assembly will be levelled against them.” In the chargesheet filed by the SIT against Telangana leaders regarding violent incidents during the Million March, it has been mentioned that 12 statues were completely damaged and five statues and their pedestals were partially damaged at the instigation of the JAC leaders. During the Million March, the Congress MPs, Mr Madhu Yashki Gowd, and Mr K. Kesava Rao, were beaten by slippers and water bottles. A slogan-shouting mob had also chased them when they had arrived at Tank Bund to take part in the March. Apart from the statues being damaged, police and media vehicles were burnt, lensmen were attacked and stones were pelted on the police by agitators who had sneaked into the area despite heavy police deployment and restrictions. Acts of violence had taken place in the presence of Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and other Telangana leaders. The agitators had set alight a jeep of the Gandhinagar police station and an outdoor broadcasting van of a TV channel. They had also attacked installations and private properties at the Lower Tank Bund including burning an Andhra Bank ATM on Tank Bund.

Seemandhra Gears up to Fight Tooth And Nail

While the Telangana Congress leaders are still undecided on suspending their agitation in view of party president Sonia Gandhi's health condition, the Seemandhra Congress leaders are upping the ante by deciding to urge the Congress high command to direct the state to pass an assembly resolution for any issue that pertains to the interests of all the three regions of the state. Emboldened by the high command's stand on both Telangana and deletion of Clause 14F from the Presidential Order, the Seemandhra leaders are expected to insist on such resolutions when they meet AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi on August 10, Congress sources said. According to a senior leader from the Seemandhra region, this condition would permanently close the doors for the Telangana leaders to move any proposal that would hurt the interests of the Rayalaseema and Andhra regions. In the 294-member Assembly, the Seemandhra region accounts for 175 MLAs while there are only 119 members from Telangana. The Seemandhra leaders are scheduled to meet Azad as part of the consultations he initiated, on August 10 to put forth their point of view on separate Telangana state. After taking the views of Telangana leaders on the issue, Azad now wants to take the views of party leaders from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra. Convener of the Seemandhra MLAs and state minister S Sailajanath said a resolution favoring Telangana state would never get the Assembly nod as majority members were opposed to it. "The fate of the resolution is obvious. It would be defeated if moved at any time. They (TCongress leaders) should stop day dreaming of getting a resolution adopted in Assembly," he said. Stating that a 16-member team would go to Delhi on Wednesday to participate in the talks with Azad, he said they would oppose the Telangana state tooth and nail. Gade Venkata Reddy, another senior leader from the Seemandhra region, backed Union home minister P Chidambaram's opinion on the Assembly resolution. "Chidambaram was correct when he said afresh Assembly resolution was required for taking up either the Telangana state issue or for deletion of 14F," Reddy said.

TJACs Differ Each Other on Bandhs

Telangana outfits have postponed the bandh scheduled for Monday to August 10. In the past week, three bandhs were called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee and student JACs only to be withdrawn. The declaration and withdrawal of bandhs by TJAC and other student JACs has lead to widespread confusion among dailywage labourers, employees, students, parents and commuters. Sources say the reason for the postponing of the bandhs was infighting and one-upmanship among Tleaders and various students’ JACs. With no clarity on bandhs, anxious parents and others were calling up media offices to know the status of the bandhs. However, as the T-outfits did not clarify till the last minute, there was widespread confusion among the general public. August clearly will be the month of bandhs and strikes. On Monday, TJAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram will teach "Telangana Paatam" (Lessons on Telangana) to students at the Government Junior College, Saroornagar in support of the "pen down" strike announced by T-employees. This will be followed by a 48-hour bandh on August 13 and 14 to stall the upcoming SI exams. However, Telangana parties say the bandh will be called off if the controversial Clause 14(f) is deleted from the Presidential Order by then. There is also a separate "educational institutions bandh" that has been called on August 17 in support of the general strike announced by various Tstaff associations from August 17. Some T-outfits have also announced an indefinite bandh for educational institutions from August 17 onward as part of the general strike. While Telangana Students' JAC had given a bandh call on August 5, it had later postponed it to August 8. Meanwhile, the OUJAC announced that the bandh was further postponed to August 10. Differences cropped up among the student leaders in TSJAC and OUJAC over the postponement of the bandh to August 10 with the TSJAC leaders questioning how the OUJAC could reschedule a bandh announced by the TSJAC.

Rosaiah Declares 100% Consensus Not Possible on T

Former chief minister K Rosaiah has appealed to the Centre to take a decision on the Telangana issue before it takes an ugly turn. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Rosaiah said the Centre must take a stand keeping in view the events unfolding in the state. Ruling out 100% consensus on the issue in the state assembly, the former CM said he had conveyed the same to the UPA chairperson during his visit to Delhi last year. "Cent per cent consensus is not possible on such issues. The same was the case when Madras state was formed or for that matter even when Andhra was merged with Telangana to form Andhra Pradesh," he said.

AP Govt to Clamp ESMA on More Services

Toughening its stance ahead of the proposed strike by state government employees belonging to the Telangana region from August 17 in support of a separate state demand, the Kiran Kumar Reddy regime has decided to bring 46 more services under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (Esma). The talks between the state and the employees last week had collapsed after the former refused to honour some of the pre-conditions set by the latter, including not involving the Esma in the event of a strike. According to sources, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday gave the green signal to the cabinet sub-committee to include more services under Esma. The cabinet panel is scheduled to meet on Monday after which the decision is likely to be announced, they said. The services which are being brought under the Esma are: AP transport services, AP rural water supply service, AP BC welfare service, AP civil supplies service, AP social welfare service, AP registration service, AP commercial tax service, AP revenue service, AP judicial and ministerial services, AP panchayat raj service, AP media and health service, AP state and subordinate services, AP last grade service, AP secretariat services, AP ministerial and allied services, AP work-charged services and AP subordinate services. The state has already brought the AP dairy development corporation, Singareni Collieries, Transco, APGenco, CPDCL, EPDCL, NPDCL, SPDCL, 104 municipalities across the state, GHMC, Hyderabad water works and sewerage board, the treasuries, pay offices, pay and accounts offices, APSRTC and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) under Esma. ESMA was enacted in 1971 and first invoked in 1983 when NTR was the chief minister. Then, only 33 services were brought under the purview of Esma on July 5, 1983. It was invoked for the second time on November 4, 1986 against the striking state government employees. If those in the services brought under the Esma go on strike, the government will have the authority to cut their job and salary and such a decision in turn cannot be challenged in court. According to sources, another round of talks is possible between the state and the employee associations ahead of the proposed strike from August 17.

T-Ministers to Boycott Independence Day Celebrations

For the first time in the history of Andhra Pradesh, district collectors are set to take the salute in the Telangana districts on the Independence Day in view of the ministers from the region deciding to stay away from all the official events on August 15 including the ceremonial parade, in protest against the delay in the creation of Telangana. Sources told that the general administration department (GAD) has been asked to sound the collectors of 10 Telangana districts to be on stand-by to hoist the tricolour and take the salute on the Independence Day. Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will take the salute at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad as part of the statewide celebrations. In fact, in view of the threats by the Telangana supporters led by the TRS to disrupt the official functions on the day, several Congress MLAs, too, have decided to stay away from the ceremonial parade at the various district headquarters in the Telangana districts.

ESMA Comes in Way of Govt-Employees Talks

The Joint Action Committee of Telangana employees, teachers and gazetted officers had on August 5 boycotted crucial talks with the Andhra Pradesh cabinet sub-committee over the proposed general strike from August 17, demanding withdrawal of certain orders invoking ESMA. The JAC also demanded an assurance from the government that ESMA would not be invoked against employees, as a pre-requisite for holding talks. It also wanted immediate withdrawal of para-military and security forces deployed in government offices. Gazetted officers of various universities in the region met in Hyderabad on Sunday and discussed ways to participate in the proposed strike from August 17. Some of the leaders of pro-Telangana employees unions attended the meeting. The JAC demanded an assurance from the govt that ESMA would not be invoked against employees. "Since the Telangana leaders have already quit their posts, our participation should be equally effective. We discussed about our participation," V Srinivas Goud, a leader of Telangana Gazetted Officers Association, told reporters. Taking exception to the government invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the employees even as it invited them for talks, he said a congenial atmosphere should prevail for the talks to be held. The JAC had served a notice on the government late last month threatening to go on an indefinite general strike from August 1 demanding apart from service-related issues, the creation of Telangana state. Subsequently, the strike was put off till August 17. However, the AP government employees and other people's organisations in Telangana region would launch their protests in support of the separate statehood demand, among others, from Monday. The government employees unions in Telangana would undertake protests like lunch-hour demonstrations and 'work to rule' from Monday and plan to intensify their stir in a phased manner.

Good News: 14F on Its Way Out!

Bright indications are that the Telangana groups have prevailed upon the government at last to do away with the controversial 14F clause of the Presidential Order. It has now been sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for further action. According to these sources, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy telephoned the home minister on Thursday morning and sought an early decision on the issue as the examinations for the recruitment of sub-inspectors are slated to be held throughout the state on August 13-14. "After going through the concerned file, Chidambaram called up the chief minister around 11.30 am and informed him that he had just cleared and sent it to the Prime Minister's Office," said the sources. Kiran Kumar also enquired whether the matter needed the clearance of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) as was stated by Manmohan Singh when a delegation of Telangana Congress MPs called on him two days ago. "Chidambaram assured the chief minister that the matter will be taken care of once the Prime Minister gives his approval," the sources said. PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, who is in New Delhi, also said after meeting Chidambaram and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday that clause 14 F was on its way out. "Both of them assured me of a positive decision. I am confident that 14F will be deleted before the SI examinations are held, most likely in the next couple of days," Botsa told over telephone.

T-issue to Figure in Parliament Today

With the Lok Sabha Speaker accepting to take up a 'Calling Attention Motion', the contentious Telangana issue is going to be discussed in Parliament today. Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj has given notice of the calling attention motion, which will be responded to by the Home Minister P Chidambaram. The Telangana issue has led to resignation of over a dozen MPs, including several from the Congress party from Telangana region. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is yet to take a decision on the resignations. It is for the first time that the Telangana issue will figure in Parliament after the MPs' resignation. The government has so far been maintaining that there has to be consensus of all the stakeholders. While Telangana MPs want the Centre to stick to its December 9, 2009 statement that the government will initiate steps for the formation of a Telangana state, but lawmakers from the rest of the state want Andhra Pradesh to be united. Congress General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad is trying to find a solution to the issue by holding consultations with lawmakers from all regions.

Konda Laxman Bapuji Forewarns KCR

The veteran Telangana protagonist, Mr Konda Laxman Bapuji, accused the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, of side tracking the Telangana movement and failing to take T-supporters along with him. "If the TRS fails to change its stance, people will revolt against it and the leader. Mr Rao should be careful," Mr Konda Laxman Bapuji said. He made these remarks after a Telangana TD Forum delegation led by Mr E. Dayakar Rao called on him to seek his support in intensifying the agitation and bringing all parties on one platform. Mr Bapuji was once a close ally of Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, but later fell out with him. He said there is no need for MLAs to resign again, but the agitations must be intensified, he added.

Lagadapati Rajagopal Okays Separate Telangana State

The Vijayawada MP, Mr Lagadapati Rajagopal, on Tuesday said that he would not mind accepting Telangana as a separate state only if it would be the last state to be carved out in the Indian Union. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mr Rajagopal called on all political parties to come together and pass a resolution that there would be no more division of states after Telangana if it is created. He said, "all political parties should join hands and pass a constitutional resolution stating that there would not be any more division of states after Telangana, if at all it is created." He also opined that a solution has been arrived at on the vexed issue even as he declared that he would go by the orders of the party high command on the issue. He said, "My opinion is that a solution has been arrived at on the issue of Telangana. And I will go by any decision taken by the party leadership." Even as he condoled the death of Yadi Reddy who allegedly committed suicide over the statehood issue, Mr Rajagopal launched a broadside against the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekar Rao, saying that he was enacting a drama to get the Chief Minister's chair. Attacking Mr Rao for his remark that he would commit suicide over Telangana, the Vijawada MP said, "He is enacting a drama just for the CM's chair."

Tollywood Blackout in Support of Telangana

With the agitation for separate statehood gaining momentum, the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce has resolved to join the agitation by shutting down work for 48 hours on August 17 and 18. The chamber will be dashing off letters to the Telugu Film Producers' Council and the AP Film Chamber of Commerce, urging them to shut down shootings, studios, dubbing and other film-related activities in support of the stir spearheaded by TJAC. More than 450-odd theatres, including multiplexes in the region, will down their shutters, to show their solidarity for the ongoing agitation. Even though Tactivists demanded a 5 to 7 day bandh, it was scaled down to 48 hours.

T-issue to be Discussed in Parliament on 5 August

The Lok Sabha Speaker, Ms Meira Kumar, on Tuesday decided to allow discussion on a calling attention notice given by the Opposition leader, Ms Sushma Swaraj, on the Telangana issue on August 5. Political leaders of various Telangana outfits had met Ms Swaraj recently demanding that the BJP, which supports Telangana statehood, raise the issue in Parliament. Accordingly she gave the notice and it was conceded to by the Speaker. However, the political observers say that Sushma Swaraj's move to raise T issue on 5 August has benefitted the UPA government as the NDA and the UPA on Tuesday agreed to discuss the issue of price rise in a joint resolution on Wednesday. With this, the government appears to have foiled the Opposition's plan to compel it to go in for a floor test in the Lok Sabha on the issue of price rise. On the price rise and corruption issues, the Opposition was keen on voting with the calculation that a trial of strength would expose the government and the fence-sitters. But government floor managers finally succeeded in convincing the Opposition, especially the BJP-led NDA, to hold a meaningful debate. The BJP had been adamant on separate discussions on price rise and corruption but the government had certain reservations. NEW DELHI After a few rounds of discussions between the UPA and the NDA, the wording of the resolution on discussion of price rise and corruption was tweaked to suit both of them. The resolution, which will express the feelings of the House, will call upon the government to take immediate steps to check the rising prices of essential commodities. Mr Yashwant Sinha (BJP), Mr Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal-U) and Mr K.S. Rao (Congress) will move the resolution.

TRS Leader Etela Rajender Warns P Chidambaram

Speaking to media at Telangana Bhavan, TRS leader Etela Rajender strongly warned Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. On Monday, the Home Minister suggested AP chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to get passed a unanimous resolution once again in the AP Assembly for deletion of the 14(f) clause from Presidential Orders, 1975 which treats Hyderabad as a 'Free Zone' for police recruitment. Since the AP assembly has already passed a resolution to that effect last year, Etela Rajender said that there was no need for a fresh resolution and P Chidambaram's suggestion is misleading and creating confusion among the state leadership. Telangana parties have long demanded that the clause, which allows candidates from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions to be recruited for police jobs in Hyderabad, be deleted. So that Hyderabad district is brought under Zone VI, so as to make people from Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Medak and Nalgonda districts alone eligible for police recruitment in Hyderabad. The Assembly had passed the resolution last October to delete the clause after the Supreme Court had stated that the police recruitments for Hyderabad was not covered under the Presidential Order governing Zonal appointments as it was a Free Zone. The issue becomes important due to the present situation that has developed around the state-wide SI examinations scheduled for August 13. T-parties are adamant that the examination should be held after the clause is deleted.

Resigned T Cong Leaders Boycott Parliament

The 10 Telangana MPs who had submitted their resignations declared on Monday that that they would stay away from Parliament till the Telangana Bill was tabled even though the Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, expressed optimism that the issue would be resolved soon as the Congress general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, was engaged in hectic consultations with all the stakeholders. However, the three MPs from the region who had not given in their papers, Mr Sarve Satyanarayana, Mr Anjan Kumar Yadav and the Union petroleum minister, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, attended Parliament. The Telangana MPs led by the Rajya Sabha MP, Dr K. Kesava Rao, held a closed-door meeting at his residence on Monday. After emerging from the meeting, Nizamabad MP Madhu Yashki Goud told the media that there is no question of taking back their resignations. "The resignations are non-negotiable, Telangana issue is non-negotiable - we will consider withdrawing resignations only when proceedings for carving out a separate state are initiated by the central government. Till such time, we have unanimously decided to boycott the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions," he said.

TDP Telangana Forum Deeksha at Indira Park

The Telugu Desam Party's Telangana Forum took up a Deeksha program at Indira Park in city today in support of the demand for separate Telangana. Here's the video clipping of TDP T Forum leaders speaking at the Deeksha.

As a Last Resort KCR Threatens To Take Poison

Spitting venom on the central government for not yet taking positive decision towards carving out a separate Telangana state, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao stated that as a last resort he would take poison if the state is not formed. Speaking about intensifying agitation for Telangana, KCR said that there would be rasta rokos across the Telangana region on August 1 and protest rallies on August 2, burning of effigies of the Chief Minister and the DGP on August 3, and a round-table meet on the issue on August 4. "We have been asking the Chief Minister to postpone the SI examinations till the deletion of the 14(f) clause from the Presidential Orders to pave the way for declaring Hyderabad a separate zone, which is being branded as a free zone, but the Chief Minister is stuck on his decision to go ahead with the exam," he said. Mr Chandrasekhar Rao also suggested that they followed Assam and Manipur's "chakka jam" pattern, forcing vehicular traffic to come to a grinding halt during the later part of the Telangana agitation. "We have to achieve Telangana at any cost, there is no alternative other than a separate state. If it doesn't happen then Seemandhra people will take revenge on us. It is better to die than live in such pitiable circumstances. I think I will have to consume poison and die for Telangana rather than face such humiliation," he said.

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