Opposition gears up for protests

Hyderabad: Opposition parties in the state have decided to take the path of agitation to demand the rollback of power hikes. They will also take up a 'Chalo Assembly' programme during the forthcoming Budget Session along the lines of ‘Agitation at Basheerbagh’ in 2000 during the TD rule, which resulted in police firing. Three protesters were killed in that incident.
Interestingly, Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently on his padayatra, has passed clear instructions to his party’s cadre to take up mass agitations against the power tariff hike.
Mr Naidu has even told them to involve other ‘like minded’ political parties like the CPI and CPM in the agitation.
The infamous Basheerbagh incident on Aug 28, 2000 has literally haunted the TD government till the 2004 general elections when the party lost miserably. Mr Naidu on Sunday discussed the proposals of the massive, unprecedented tariff hike of `12,000 crore with the party leaders.
Hitting out at Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on the proposed power tariff hike, the TD chief demanded that the state government release a ‘white paper’ on the burden it had imposed on consumers after coming to power in 2004.
He was addressing a public meeting at Errabellig-udem village in Nellikud-uru mandal as part of his ninth day of ‘Vastunna Meekosam’ yatra in Warangal on Sunday.
The TD chief clearly directed his party leaders to take up the agitation on a large scale preparatory to  next year’s polls. He also told them that if the party cadres raised the power tariff hike issue, people who are already vexed with the increased burden of FSAs and last year’s tariff hike, will support the main Opposition party’s efforts.
Mr Naidu said there was no rationale behind the power tariff hike, except to loot the people. He also accused Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy of taking kickbacks of `400 crore in the power purchase agreements last year.
The TD chief will discuss the issue further at the party’s executive committee meeting scheduled to be held on January 9 at Khammam, where it will be the main agenda.
CPI and CPM have agreed to work with TD on all people-oriented issues, including this one. Another opposition party, TRS, also announced mass dharna programmes on Sunday to be held at all substations in Telangana. The BJP too said it would join the protest.