Telangana March Organizers To Get Closed Venue

With the Chalo Hyderabad march set to be held on September 30 by Telangana activists, a delegation of leaders from TJAC, TRS, BJP and CPI met the governor E S L Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan on Thursday, requesting him to direct the government to give them permission for the march.

TRS Floor leader Etela Rajender assured the governor that the march would be held in a peaceful and "Gandhian" way. The governor, however, told the delegation that "not holding a march would always be a better idea".

The delegation later met Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, who assured the leaders that she would request Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to grant permission for a public meeting of the Telangana march organizers. Later in the evening, Sabita Indra Reddy met CM Kiran Kumar Reddy to seek permission for a public meeting.

The police said that the government is considering allowing the T-march organizers to have a public meeting in a closed venue for a few hours. The idea of a closed venue is being proposed so that the activists do not spill onto the roads, and so that heavy security can be easily provided. The Uppal cricket stadium and Parade Grounds are choices being considered for the venue.

A meeting held by the Telangana Congress MPs decided to go on with the march on September 30. Telangana JAC convenor Kodandaram stated that the march would take place on September 30 and on Tank Bund, and not at any other venue.

Meanwhile K Chandrasekhar Rao is at Delhi to persuade the Centre to grant the formulation of a separate Telangana. KCR is, thus, 1200 km away from the much-hyped Telangana march along with his son K T Rama Rao, daughter K Kavitha and grandchildren.