Hyderabad:
A massive gathering at Osmania University stepped up the Telangana stir on Sunday, even as TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao left for New Delhi to attend Tuesday's all-party meeting convened by the Home Minister.
The massive rally of students mobilised from all 10 districts of Telangana region, permission for which was granted by the High Court yesterday, sent out a clear message that there was no need for adopting a resolution in Andhra Pradesh assembly favouring creation of Telangana.
The rally at Osmania University, the nerve centre of Telangana agitation, addressed by Telangana activists and naxalite sympathisers including poet Varavara Rao, decided to observe a rail and road blockade on January 5 to prevent buses and trains coming from Andhra and Rayalaseema areas. This is to counter a similar bandh announced by activists, who are campaigning for a united Andhra Pradesh, in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, and would coincide with the talks the Centre has convened with eight recognized political parties of the state.
The speakers at the meeting also asked leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP and PRP's Chiranjeevi to come out with their stand and not vacillate or make U-turns on the issue of creation of Telangana. Some of the speakers even warned that Gandhi Bhawan, state Congress headquarters and NTR Bhawan, TDP head office, in Hyderabad would be razed to the ground if Telangana is not achieved.
Varavara Rao said it is the right of people of Telangana to fight for a separate state and to free themselves from the "exploitation" of people from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. Other speakers at the rally also said the Telangana movement has come to the "clinching" stage because of the students struggle and not because of political leaders.
Meanwhile, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, the political face of the Telangana movement, left for New Delhi to attend the Tuesday all-party meeting convened by Home Minister P Chidambaram. Speaking to reporters before leaving for the capital, Rao said he would impress the January 5 meeting for an immediate Parliament resolution on formation of Telangana.
Rao, who has resigned as a Lok Sabha member, also said he would meet leaders like Lalu Prasad, Ajit Singh and Sharad Pawar to convince them the need for a resolution in Parliament on the statehood issue.
While Rao will represent TRS at the meeting, Congress is likely to be represented by leaders from all the three regions of the state. Sources said APCC chief D Srinivas (Telangana), senior MP K S Rao (coastal Andhra) and Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy (Rayalaseema) will attend the meeting on behalf of Congress.
K Rosaiah will participate in the meeting in his capacity as Chief Minister. While Chiranjeevi will represent Prajarajyam Party, it is not yet clear who will represent TDP in the meeting.
The massive rally of students mobilised from all 10 districts of Telangana region, permission for which was granted by the High Court yesterday, sent out a clear message that there was no need for adopting a resolution in Andhra Pradesh assembly favouring creation of Telangana.
The rally at Osmania University, the nerve centre of Telangana agitation, addressed by Telangana activists and naxalite sympathisers including poet Varavara Rao, decided to observe a rail and road blockade on January 5 to prevent buses and trains coming from Andhra and Rayalaseema areas. This is to counter a similar bandh announced by activists, who are campaigning for a united Andhra Pradesh, in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, and would coincide with the talks the Centre has convened with eight recognized political parties of the state.
The speakers at the meeting also asked leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP and PRP's Chiranjeevi to come out with their stand and not vacillate or make U-turns on the issue of creation of Telangana. Some of the speakers even warned that Gandhi Bhawan, state Congress headquarters and NTR Bhawan, TDP head office, in Hyderabad would be razed to the ground if Telangana is not achieved.
Varavara Rao said it is the right of people of Telangana to fight for a separate state and to free themselves from the "exploitation" of people from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. Other speakers at the rally also said the Telangana movement has come to the "clinching" stage because of the students struggle and not because of political leaders.
Meanwhile, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, the political face of the Telangana movement, left for New Delhi to attend the Tuesday all-party meeting convened by Home Minister P Chidambaram. Speaking to reporters before leaving for the capital, Rao said he would impress the January 5 meeting for an immediate Parliament resolution on formation of Telangana.
Rao, who has resigned as a Lok Sabha member, also said he would meet leaders like Lalu Prasad, Ajit Singh and Sharad Pawar to convince them the need for a resolution in Parliament on the statehood issue.
While Rao will represent TRS at the meeting, Congress is likely to be represented by leaders from all the three regions of the state. Sources said APCC chief D Srinivas (Telangana), senior MP K S Rao (coastal Andhra) and Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy (Rayalaseema) will attend the meeting on behalf of Congress.
K Rosaiah will participate in the meeting in his capacity as Chief Minister. While Chiranjeevi will represent Prajarajyam Party, it is not yet clear who will represent TDP in the meeting.
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