Warangal bandh total

Warangal: Warangal bandh called on Tuesday by the Warangal Parirakshna Committee supported by all opposition parties and people’s organisations opposing creation of Hanamkonda district evoked good response from public.

The normal life was disrupted due to bandh which was total and passed off peacefully. The public took part in the bandh voluntarily. Schools, colleges, business establishments, cinema halls, banks and shops were closed for the day.

Following an appeal by Warangal District Un-aided Private Schools Association (WADUPSA) leaders T Buchi Babu and JS Paramjyothi, the private schools announced holiday on the day.

The opposition leaders arrived at Hanamkonda bus stand at 4 am and staged dharna obstructing movements of buses until 9 am. Majority of TSRTC buses were confined to depots.

Police arrested N Rajender Reddy, Errabelli Swarna, K Srinivas Rao, Rajanala Srihari and K Sridhar of Congress and M Dharma Rao and Ch Sunil of BJP, G Satyanarayana Rao and Seetakka of TDP, committee convener B Jayakar along with 100 activists and let them off later. Heated arguments took place between the police and the protestors during the arrests.

Later, the leaders took out bike rallies in Warangal, Hanamkonda and Kazipet enforcing the bandh. Former Union minister Sarve Satyanarayana has also took part in the rallies and protests staged by Congress workers.

CPI leader T Srinivasa Rao led a bike rally in the streets of Hanamkonda while Ch Sunil and Rau Padma of BJP staged rasta-roko in Warangal. The city Congress working president led a bike rally in Warangal protesting creation of Hanamkonda district.

The protesting leaders alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was adopting “divide and rule” policy. There was no public interest involved in dividing historic Warangal city and it was meant to benefit the ruling party leaders.

“At least now the state government should wake up and withdraw the proposal to create Hanamkonda district. Otherwise people would teach a fitting lesson to the TRS government,” cautioned the leaders adding that serious agitations would be taken up opposing division of Warangal city.

Revolutionary poet P Varavara Rao opposed the creation of Hanamkonda district. There was no scientific approach adopted in creation of new districts.

Creation of Hanamkonda was meant to benefit a couple of ruling party leaders. It was aimed to divert public attention from the problems being faced by them, he alleged.

It might be noted that TJAC chairman Prof. M Kodandaram and MRPS president M Krishna Madiga also opposed creation of Hanamkonda district.