After the formation of the state, this is the first bandh, the oppositions are conducting against the state government. The bandh is being held in complete Telangana state and buses are rested in the depots itself.
Upon the continuous farmer suicides in Telangana state, the opposition parties protested against the government and demanded to waive off all the farmer loans at once. Though the government said that, it would be done, as per the planning in the future, the oppositions continued to raise slogans in the assembly, against the Telangana government.
Even though the speaker tried to explain for number of times, there is no one who could listen to him. It was then, the speaker had to suspend all the MLAs from the rest of the assembly sessions. Meanwhile, the oppositions demanded to clear all the farmer loans by 10th of October, otherwise they warned to conduct Telangana bandh on the same day.
Upon government maintaining mum on clearing the loans, as warned before, the oppositions are now conducting bandh today statewide.
Though in the morning, a few of the buses started to move from the depot, the TDP leaders stopped those on the way, by sitting on the roads and protested against the government, holding the placards.
The TDP leaders and other oppositions urged the public, to cooperate with the bandh, as they are doing it for the welfare of the farmers.
Telangana bandh has no impact on the public
However, the bandh might not show any impact on the public as it is Saturday today and most of the employees have week off and the school students are enjoying their Dasara holidays, after completing their quarterly exams recently.
TSRTC tries to run buses
Meanwhile, it seems the Telangana government is least concerned about the bandh and is assuring that, no disturbance would be caused to the normal public and even assured to run the buses and other important offices. Regarding this, it has put the entire administration on alert. The TSRTC announced that, buses would be operated normally. Police deployed additional forces at all district headquarters.
Rallies at several paces in the Telangana state to support bandh
TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy participated in several the meetings with TDP and BJP leaders, to make the bandh successful.
In Hyderabad, a rally would be held from Charminar to Gowliguda bus stand and stage a dharna and stop the buses.
Congress leaders, Danam Nagender and Anjan Kumar Yadav were already arrested near Charminar, after they tried to take out a rally, seeking support for the bandh. Even TDP and BJP leaders were also arrested in other parts of Hyderabad.
Authors view
Though the bandh might not show impact on daily public life, it would pressurize the government in the farmer loans issue. Instead of concentrating on other big issues and investing crores on it, it would be better, if the government waives off those loans first, as the farmer suicides are increasing day by day. Otherwise, it can show serious impact on the farmers and rural areas, and thus reflect it on the TRS government in the next elections.
By Phani Ch