Protest for T State Reaches new high

High drama was witnessed in the State Assembly premises on Friday when two TRS legislators -- Vinay Bhaskar and K Sammaiah -- holding black flags climbed on to the top of the legislature party building demanding release of all arrested T activists. They threatened to jump off if the police try to arrest them. Talking to HMTV from the top of TRSLP building, Sammaiah said that they had taken this extreme measure since the State Government had failed to recognise the aspirations and anguish of four and a half crore Telangana people and had resorted to suppressive measures.

When asked why they had resorted to such a protest when they knew the ball was in the Congress High Command's court and the State Government could do nothing in the matter, Sammaiah said the Centre had shut its eyes and the State Government was refusing to present a realistic picture to the Centre. Another MLA Vinay Bhaskar demanded that the police release all the arrested activists and drop all cases. He said the TRS had achieved a moral victory. Bhaskar said they had decided to stage this protest since the Assembly had refused to pass a resolution seeking bifurcation of the State. Assembly marshals brought the two MLAs down after an hour.

When asked if it was proper on their part to climb the legislature party building being responsible legislators, they said they had tried all possible methods to impress upon the State Government to seek permission for the programme. "We met the Chief Minister, the Governor and the DGP but none of them responded favourably. We are in a situation which is worse than Nizam rule," the two MLAs said. They also took strong objection to the manner in which the Chief Minister had called their protest in front of his Assembly chambers a few days back a drama. They said they were left with no other option to express their anguish.