Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kodandaram on Monday announced that the ‘Sakala Janulu Samme’ or the general strike would not be called up till the Centre announces a favourable decision with regard to creation of Telangana state.
Talking to reporters, Prof Kodandaram said that the Centre should announce a concrete deadline for granting statehood to Telangana region. He refuted the reports that the strike would be called off in a phased manner. Instead, he said, the general strike would be intensified in the coming few days.
The JAC chairman criticised the state government for allegedly using coercive methods to bring back the striking workers of Singareni Collieries to work. He also condemned the arrest of union leaders belonging to the SCCL.
However, Prof Kodandaram indicated that the JAC was ready for talks with the Centre on the issue. He said a delegation comprising leaders of all political parties and other groups would meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh demanding that he takes the initiative for creation of Telangana. Accusing the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of misleading the Centre on the impact of general strike, he said that the state government was trying to down play the employees’ general strike.
The JAC leader said that almost all sections of the society have been participating in the general strike. “Their participation is a clear message for the Centre and State Governments that the entire population of Telangana was in favour of separate state,” he said.
Prof Kodandaram also condemned the lathicharge and use of force against the students of Osmania University and Nizam College by the police. “Police must avoid actions that could provoke the students’ community. Students want to take our rallies to press for their demand in a democratic way. But by closing the gates of their colleges and hostels, police is not only preventing them from exercising their democratic right of freedom of expression, but also provoking the students for violence,” he said.
The JAC chairman said that a complaint would be filed before the Human Rights Commission against the police excesses on Telangana activists. (INN)
