Telangana stir hits railways, KTR detained

A crackdown was on Saturday launched against Telangana supporters in Andhra Pradesh.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrashekhar Rao's son KT Rama Rao and other protestors were detained by the police.

This came after a rail roko led to more than 170 trains being cancelled.

It was a tug of war between Telangana Joint Action Committee and the Andhra Pradesh government.

While the determined protesters hogged limelight by blocking key railway stations, the State government shot back with 18 companies of paramilitary forces, surveillance helicopter and arrests of MLAs, MPs and activists supporting the rail roko.

TRS said that it was time the Centre took note of the one-month saga.

"Today we question the leadership of CM N Kirankumar Reddy who seem to be scared of people. Today he's trying to ensure that his government stays afloat using the police force and paramilitary force that's being deployed in Telangana. We condemn the undemocratic attitude of State government. We request the Union government to take note of what's happening in the past 32 days," said KTR.

However, the determined Kirankumar Reddy government is acting tough this time round. The chief minister and the DGP have issued strong warning that arrests under Railway Act may spoil lives of the people, especially students as punishments may also lead to life imprisonment.

On the first day, the government could achieve upper hand and move several trains. Interestingly, the Chief Minister on Saturday said that Hyderabad was suffering but assured industrialists that shopping malls in the city could remove their uncomfortable safety nets soon.

"Our registrations are more than the expected target. We are getting more money than the expected target, except in Hyderabad. And I agree with one of you, 'nets' are not giving good image for Hyderabad. I assure you, very soon these nets will go away," said Reddy.

Agitation is the prime objective for Telangana activists while the State government is concerned about law and order. Meanwhile, the Centre is taking its own sweet time to take a decision on the issue.

It's a great inconvenience for public and industry in terms of livelihood, transport and other facilities.