India: Arrests before Telangana 'million-man' rally

[Spring Onion]

10 March 2011 Last updated at 11:28 GMT

India: Arrests before Telangana 'million-man' rally

About 50,000 people have defied an unofficial curfew in the Telangana region of south India's Andhra Pradesh state to rally for a separate state.

Police say that 100,000 people have been detained - many in public auditoriums and stadiums - to prevent them attending the rally in Hyderabad.

Those held include the head of the Telangana Joint Action Committee and about 50 members of the state assembly.

The protesters dubbed their gathering as a "million-man" rally.

But in the event few demonstrators were allowed by the authorities to congregate.
Widespread protests

Deep divisions have emerged over the Telangana issue over the past 15 months.

In December 2009, India's Congress Party-led government promised that the new state would be formed, but later said more talks were needed.

The announcement prompted widespread protests in the region.
Continue reading the main story
PROPOSED TELANGANA STATE

Population of 35 million
Comprises 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh, including city of Hyderabad
Landlocked, predominantly agricultural area
One of the most under-developed regions in India
Fifty-year campaign for separate status
More than 400 people died in 1969 crackdown

In the latest disturbances on Thursday, police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesting students at Osmania University in Hyderabad.

In addition, barricades and police road blocks were set up all over Telangana to prevent people from attending the "million-man rally".

The BBC's Omer Farooq in the city says that there is a tense atmosphere there and elsewhere across Telangana with schools, shops and businesses closed down.

Our correspondent says that the police security operation made it practically impossible for protesters inside and outside of Hyderabad to attend the rally - all train and most bus services in Telangana were suspended.

Among those detained was Kobanda Ram, head of the Telangana Joint Action Committee, along with about 50 members of the Andhra Pradesh state assembly who support separate statehood.
Map

The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says that the latest protests could once again re-ignite the Telangana issue and provoke further mass protests.

The final decision on a new state lies with the Indian parliament. But the state assembly must also pass a resolution approving its creation.

Opponents of the move are unhappy that Hyderabad, home to many major information technology and pharmaceutical companies, could become Telangana's new capital.

BBC News - India: Arrests before Telangana 'million-man' rally

 

[Roybot]

Doesn't belong in the word affairs section. Its India's internal matter.

 

[kak1978]

Looks like Ms. Jana was really excited about this news! Cool down they are not asking for separate country they are just asking for a separate state, just like Jharkhand which got separated from Bihar.

 

[Spring Onion]

Looks like Ms. Jana was excited about this news! Cool down they are not asking for separate country they are just asking for a separate state, just like Jharkhand which got separated from Bihar.

comment on the topic and not what i think as so far i had not posted my personal view.

whatever they are asking for thats stated in the news .

 

[Spring Onion]

HYDERABAD: Normal life was thrown out of gear here on Thursday in view of massive traffic and security restrictions imposed by police ahead of the 'Million March to Hyderabad' called by pro-Telangana groups seeking introduction of a Bill on separate state in the ongoing Parliament session.

Traffic restrictions came into force from morning hours and office-goers had a tough time reaching their destinations. (Read: Telangana leaders taken into custody )

The million march aimed at sending across a message to the Centre on formation of Telangana is supposed to be held from 1 pm to 4pm at Tankbund at the Hussainsagar lake in the heart of the city.

Police which has denied permission to the march citing that this programme may affect normal life and might even lead to law and order problems, have already imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in Hyderabad and Cyberabad Police Commissionerate limits banning any kind of assembly of persons, rallies and processions.

Heavy security arrangements were made in different parts of Hyderabad with deployment of hundreds of security personnel drawn from the state police and central paramilitary forces.

However, police, which has barricaded surrounding routes with barbed wires towards the Tank Bund area here ahead of the march came under severe criticism from public, particularly office-goers, who complained that though they started their journey hours before to reach their destinations, they were still being prevented at many roads. Police had yesterday asked office-goers to carry identity cards.

Traffic restrictions resulted in heavy traffic jams at several locations including near RTC Cross Roads, Kachiguda, Malakpet, Koti, parts of Old City, Basheerbagh among other areas.

Million march: Traffic, security restrictions hit normal life in Hyderabad - The Times of India

 

[kak1978]

So tell me what is the significance of this news in a forum that says "World Affairs". When the mods have made it clear by deleting country specific threads in this section. Telangana movement is for a demand for separate state from Andhra Pradesh, so it is very much a internal matter of India. The movement existed since Independence. Now one particular political party is adding fuel to the peoples sentiments for its own gain. Now tell me what was your point/views on posting this?

 

[bhagat]

it is just a political drama....nothing more than that......in india it is easy to Mobilize large number of people just pay 200rs per day and arrange transport vehicle. Lot of political gatherings happens this way to show their strength. I am not saying all protests like this. But this is completely politically motivated. Here in hyd it causing lot of trouble to normal day to day life and with these kind of unnecessary protest we losing our charm with foreign investors in hyd

 

[Spring Onion]

So tell me what is the significance of this news in a forum that says "World Affairs". When the mods have made it clear by deleting country specific threads in this section. Telangana movement is for a demand for separate state from Andhra Pradesh, so it is very much a internal matter of India. The movement existed since Independence. Now one particular political party is adding fuel to the peoples sentiments for its own gain. Now tell me what was your point/views on posting this?

If you have objection only on section then i guess there should be no news about India in world affairs section anyway.

as far as this issue of Telangana what is in your opinion its going to bring any good to those people who are demanding separating from Andhra ? what are the main reasons ?

100,000 people arrested by police before the rally and 50,000 protested its a big number of people so what exactly they are looking for ?
any financial benefit to the separate state if formed ?


the govt had promised them before so do you think its gonna be materialised keeping in view this massive protest ?

 

[Maritimer]

This is no big news. In India, large political rallies can be arranged easily by paying small sums of money. 50,000 people is not a big number at all, and all those who were arrested will be released within hours. The so-called protests are just to grab media attention during the ongoing Parliament session.

On the Telangana issue, there is consensus amongst most political parties (BJP,TRS, TDP and Telangana Congress) to form a separate State. The bone of contention seems to be the issue of Hyderabad city which is home to a large number of non-Telangana population. There was also a committee appointed to study the feasibility of a new State, which made 6 proposals including autonomy, status quo, creation of 3 States and having Hyderabad as a Union territory. Eventually, there will be some form of a separate administrative unit for the Telangana region.

Personally, I am in favor of carving out small States from UP, AP and Maharashtra to ease local governance in these large States. I am not sure if there is any parallel to this in Pakistan, maybe carving out Seraikistan from Punjab and Pashtun-districts out of Balochistan province??

Again, as others have pointed out, why is this news in the World Affairs section?

If you have objection only on section then i guess there should be no news about India in world affairs section anyway.

as far as this issue of Telangana what is in your opinion its going to bring any good to those people who are demanding separating from Andhra ? what are the main reasons ?

100,000 people arrested by police before the rally and 50,000 protested its a big number of people so what exactly they are looking for ?
any financial benefit to the separate state if formed ?


the govt had promised them before so do you think its gonna be materialised keeping in view this massive protest ?

 

[@nline]

Doesn't belong in the word affairs section. Its India's internal matter.

Good joke,

 

[RoYaL~GuJJaR]

Some people are really too Naive.....