Hyderabad: As the three-day 'rail roko' agitation began in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh today, several Congress MPs, pro-Telangana leaders and activists were taken into preventive custody by the police.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)-led Joint Action Committee planned the rail blockade agitation despite the state police chief and the Chief Minister's warning of stern action. Telangana Congress MPs have said they would join the protest in support of the separate statehood demand; many of them courted arrest today.
Among those detained by the police today are TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao's son KT Rama Rao, his daughter Kavita and TRS MP Vijayashanti. Three MPs of the ruling Congress - M Jagannatham, Rajaiah and G Vivek were also taken away by the police while they were going to join the 'rail roko' agitation.
Dozens of other leaders, including legislators, were either kept under house arrest or were detained while they were heading towards the railway tracks. The arrests were made across Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad. At Osmania University's campus in Hyderabad, there were clashes between students and police -tear gas shells were used to disperse students. Over 100 protesters were arrested in Mahabubnagar district alone.
"It is a shame for the UPA government that its own MPs are participating in a 'rail roko' agitation against their government," said K T Rama Rao. The TRS leader warned the government of serious consequences if it continued to use police for committing excesses on people participating in the movement.
Telangana Congress MPs have asserted that they would participate in the 'rail roko' despite appeals from the party not to do so.
"We are not really agitating against the government, but we are trying to remind the Congress leadership of the promise it made on Telangana. The Congress cannot afford to ignore people's sentiments," said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Keshav Rao.
Around 48 long distance express trains and 76 passenger trains were initially cancelled and around 70 express trains were diverted by the railways in the wake of the three-day agitation. However, with security provisions made, the authorities are hoping to resume operations soon. Some trains that were cancelled earlier have already been rescheduled and will run from this afternoon.
Yesterday, Congress Lok Sabha member G Vivek demanded that the state government postpone the Group-II examination for recruitment of various posts in the state government and stop the arrests of Telangana agitators.
Earlier in the day, some Telangana Congress MPs met state Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy and complained about the tough talk of state DGP to take action against those who "crossed the limits" during the rail blockade.
"The comments of the DGP are provocative," Congress MP M Jagannath alleged.
"The state ministers should also take active part in the agitation," added Congress MP Madhu Yashki Goud.
State Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana has appealed to the Congress MPs not to take part in the 'rail roko'.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)-led Joint Action Committee planned the rail blockade agitation despite the state police chief and the Chief Minister's warning of stern action. Telangana Congress MPs have said they would join the protest in support of the separate statehood demand; many of them courted arrest today.
Among those detained by the police today are TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao's son KT Rama Rao, his daughter Kavita and TRS MP Vijayashanti. Three MPs of the ruling Congress - M Jagannatham, Rajaiah and G Vivek were also taken away by the police while they were going to join the 'rail roko' agitation.
Dozens of other leaders, including legislators, were either kept under house arrest or were detained while they were heading towards the railway tracks. The arrests were made across Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad. At Osmania University's campus in Hyderabad, there were clashes between students and police -tear gas shells were used to disperse students. Over 100 protesters were arrested in Mahabubnagar district alone.
"It is a shame for the UPA government that its own MPs are participating in a 'rail roko' agitation against their government," said K T Rama Rao. The TRS leader warned the government of serious consequences if it continued to use police for committing excesses on people participating in the movement.
Telangana Congress MPs have asserted that they would participate in the 'rail roko' despite appeals from the party not to do so.
"We are not really agitating against the government, but we are trying to remind the Congress leadership of the promise it made on Telangana. The Congress cannot afford to ignore people's sentiments," said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Keshav Rao.
Around 48 long distance express trains and 76 passenger trains were initially cancelled and around 70 express trains were diverted by the railways in the wake of the three-day agitation. However, with security provisions made, the authorities are hoping to resume operations soon. Some trains that were cancelled earlier have already been rescheduled and will run from this afternoon.
Yesterday, Congress Lok Sabha member G Vivek demanded that the state government postpone the Group-II examination for recruitment of various posts in the state government and stop the arrests of Telangana agitators.
Earlier in the day, some Telangana Congress MPs met state Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy and complained about the tough talk of state DGP to take action against those who "crossed the limits" during the rail blockade.
"The comments of the DGP are provocative," Congress MP M Jagannath alleged.
"The state ministers should also take active part in the agitation," added Congress MP Madhu Yashki Goud.
State Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana has appealed to the Congress MPs not to take part in the 'rail roko'.
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