Telangana groups plan massive show of strength in Hyderabad

After Seemandhra employees meeting here to oppose proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, it is now the turn of pro-Telangana groups to organize a massive show of strength to press the demand for speeding up the process for formation of Telangana state.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao Monday told reporters that 'Telangana Grajna Sabha' would be held in Hyderabad this month. He said the date and other details would be announced by Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC).

Government employees from Seemandhra, as Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra are collectively known, held a meeting here Saturday to demand the Congress withdraw its July 30 decision to carve out separate Telangana state.

A shutdown was observed in Telangana the same day on a call given by TJAC to protest the anti-Telangana attitude of the government in allowing Seemandhra meet while not permitting it to organize a peace rally.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, announced the plans for the Telangana meeting after talks with party general secretary K. Keshava Rao, TJAC convenor M. Kodandaram and other top leaders.

The TRS chief said there was nothing great about Seemandhra meeting. "The number of drivers who come to meetings organized by Telangana employees are more than those who attended Seemandhra meeting," said the MP from Mahabubnagar.

He, however, said he was leaving to the conscience of the speakers who made certain remarks about him and other Telangana leaders and the kind of language they used.

KCR said formation of Telangana state has reached a decisive phase and no force can stop it. He said some people were making attempts to stall the process but they would not succeed.

He also made it clear that no alternative to a Telangana state comprising 10 districts including Hyderabad would be acceptable to people. He was reacting to demands from some quarters to make Hyderabad a union territory.

"We want the same Telangana which existed before merger with Andhra in 1956," he said while asking people to remain alert till the goal is achieved.