Telangana Continues To Simmer

A 115-year-old man, Syed Suleiman, joined the JAC relay fasts in Doulatabad of Medak, the families of thousands of Singareni Collieries workers performed a Chandi yagam in Madamarri, 10,000 letters were sent to the PM by Telangana agitators in Surat, and people of all professions sat on their knees in Siddipet on a day where the bonhomie that Pongal (Sankranti) is associated with failed to make any impact on the ongoing Telangana separate statehood struggle.

The Medaram Jatara that happens in Warangal will most likely be called the Telangana Jatara this year, and merchants/businessmen are starting to name their stores, hotels etc. after Telangana. Sammakka-Sarakka devotees are also pledging something to their favorite goddesses for their favorite cause. And Kondatuti, women are creating muggulu (rangoli) patterned Jai Telangana.

While that is the commoners doing their bit, the leaders are at it, too. DGP Girish Kumar is at the centre of a small storm for saying a couple of days back on the sidelines of the DGPs' meeting at New Delhi that smaller states are easy prey for Naxalites. Balladeer Gaddar accused the DGP of doing Chidambaram's bidding in saying that, while Congress leaders Madhu Yashki and Vivek accused the DGP of trying to mislead the Centre with his statements, and said that they will complain about him.

Siddipet MP Sarve Satyanarayana said that legislators who resign to create a constitutional crisis are enemies of the Congress party. JAC Convener Kodandaram said that the revaluations of the papers of 10th and 12th class students of Telangana should be done in the districts where they belong. And OU JAC members today met Asifabad MLA Atram Sukku at NIMS to commiserate with him.