All set for high T at Necklace Road

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The massive crowds expected to take part in the Telangana March on Sunday and the numerous rallies organised by Telangana organisations may spell trouble despite the assurance given to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy by the organisers that the event will be peaceful.

The organisers including the Telangana Joint Action Committee, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, BJP, Telangana Student Joint Action Committee and the Osmania University Joint Action Committee, are angry at being allowed to use only half of Necklace Road — from Buddha Bhavan to PV Ghat — for the Sagara Haaram. Prof. Kodandaram, chairman of TJAC, said, “We haven’t given any undertaking (about a peaceful demonstration) and it is only an application. If police allow the free movement of those coming to the venue, it can be conducted peacefully.”

TJAC alleges COp highhandedness
Prof. Kodandaram, chairman of TJACaccused the government and police of adopting repressive mea-sures against Telangana activists. “After granting permission, the government is trying all means to scuttle the Telangana march. It is resorting to largescale arrests, bind over, cancellation of trains, bus services, seizure of lorries and other vehicles,” he alleged. “Thousands of marchers will reach Tank Bund come what may,” he asserted.

Police suspects that the protestors plan to break out of the cordoned-off area of Necklace Road. The police decided on Saturday to confine protesters to one section of Necklace Road bec-ause there are several sensitive structures in the area. The Osmania University JAC met home minister Sabita Indra Reddy to ask for permission for the rally to start at the NCC Gate of the university and proceed towards Necklace Road, but the permission was denied. The students were advised to come individually or in vehicles to the venue.

DGP V. Dinesh Reddy clarified: “Permission is only for the venue meeting from 3 pm to 7 pm and from Buddha Bhavan, Minister Road, to PV Ghat. There is no permission for rallies. Vehicles have to be parked at Parade Ground.” Central Zone DCP Tarun Joshi reiterated that the march was only permitted up to PV Ghat. “We will not allow rallies outside it,” he warned. Students have said that they will go ahead with the rallies and will not end the march at 7 pm.

“We will take out a kavathu from there to the venue. Telangana ministers if they want to participate in the rally have to first resign. If the ministers come to the venue we will attack them with chappals,” said Pidamarthi Ravi, chairman of the TSJAC. Telangana Vidyarthi Parishat leader B. Srihari said, “We have asked all students across Telangana to come to OU and from there we are taking out a rally at 10.30 am. How can we go to the venue if the police stop us?” OUJAC spokesperson M. Kirshank said: “We are taking out a bike rally from OU Arts College to Tank Bund and then we are going to Raj Bhavan to lock up the gates. We will sit on dharna at Ambedkar statue and participate in the Sagara Haaram.”