Hyderabad police foil protest over 'dharna chowk'

Leaders and activists of the Left parties, the Telangana Joint Action Committee and other people's organisations were arrested here Sunday during a protest against shifting of 'dharna chowk', a long-time popular spot for staging protests.

TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram, well-known cultural activist Vimalakka and activists of the Communist Party of India, thee Communist Party of India-Marxist and other organisations were among those held while participating in 2K Run to protest shifting of the 'chowk' from near Indira Park in the heart of the city to the city outskirts.

Police stopped the participants as there was no permission for the 2K Run.

Tension prevailed at Indira Park as policemen were deployed in large numbers to foil the protest.

Kodandaram alleged that the TRS Government was suppressing the democratic right of dissent by shifting 'dharna chowk' to the city outskirts.

Last week, opposition parties had submitted a joint representation to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, terming the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government's move as undemocratic.

Leaders of main opposition Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the CPI, the CPI-M, Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi and other organisations had met the Governor over the issue.

'Dharna chowk' has been the venue of thousands of protests by political parties, people's organisations, employees' unions, students' groups and others for over two decades.

--IANS

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