Chalo Assembly Is A Grand Success: TRS

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi, on Friday, claimed that the "Chalo Assembly" agitation had been a grand success with the pro-Telangana activists having succeeded in drawing the attention of the entire nation towards the demand for the creation of a separate Telangana state.

Talking to reporters, TRS MLA K Tarakarama Rao said that despite the deployment of thousands of security personnel on the city roads, the Telangana activists marched towards the Assembly by defying the prohibitory orders.

He said that by organising the Chalo Assembly rally, the pro-Telangana groups intended to draw the attention of both the Central and the state governments on the statehood issue, and that they have succeeded in doing so.

KTR reminded that the Centre had given its word on the floor of the Parliament on December 10, 2009, that it would create a separate Telangana state. He demanded that the Centre honour its commitment and immediately begin the process of the formation of Telangana.

Meanwhile, speaking to media persons at the Assembly's media point, TRS floor leader Etela Rajender alleged that TRS legislators were not being given an opportunity to speak on the Telangana issue on the floor of the House although they have been giving adjournment motions for the last 4 days. He said the government was trying to insult the 4 crore people of Telangana by suppressing their voice.

Senior leader Pocharam Srinivas Reddy described the government's behaviour as "unfortunate". He said that the TRS leaders had met Governor E S L Narasimhan and DGP V Dinesh Reddy, on Thursday, requesting them to allow the protest to be held at Indira Park. He said that the DGP was given an assurance that only a small delegation would proceed towards the Assembly to submit a memorandum to the Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and other leaders over the Telangana issue.

However, he said, it was unfortunate that the government and police "escalated the tension" by denying permission. (INN)