Samaikya Vedika threatens 'million march'

HYDERABAD: Samaikya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika (SRPV) is planning either 'Occupy Hyderabad' or 'Million March' in Hyderabad when Telangana bill comes up for debate in the state legislative Assembly.

APNGOs president P Ashok Babu announced this programme at a symposium on the terms of reference of Group of Ministers organised at Ashoka Gardens at Gudimalkapur, near Mehdipatnam, here on Saturday.

'The Vedika will meet again in Hyderabad to name the programme either Occupy Hyderabad or Million March,' Babu said and added that it was meant to exert pressure on the MLAs from Seemandhra to oppose the T-bill in the Assembly and see that the state remained united.

He said that they would stage dharnas before the houses of MLAs demanding that they oppose the bill in the Assembly. 'We will bring 10 lakh people to Hyderabad,' he declared.

When Ashok Babu was making this announcement, his mike was disconnected by the police. There was a mild tension at the venue when the police arrived at 6 pm and informed the organisers that the time permitted to use the mike was over. After a brief argument, the police allowed the Vedika to conduct the meeting without using mike.

The Vedika obtained permission to hold the meeting from 2 pm to 6 pm but the meeting had a delayed start at 3.45 pm.

Ashok Babu said that even in the united AP, the police denied permission to use mike for half an hour extra. 'If the state is divided and Hyderabad is made common capital, what will be the fate of Seemandhra people?. You have to understand this,' Ashok Babu said.

He said that the eleven terms of reference of GoM were not possible to implement as per the Constitution. Especially, issues like power and water sharing could not be resolved, he added.

There were several issues including geographical boundaries and financial issues. The division process was initiated only for the benefit of one political party to get seats and votes at the next election. He claimed that national parties agreed to oppose division in Parliament.

Chalasani Srinivas of Seemandhra Thinkers' Forum said that the land of the Telugus, which was 3.75 lakh km in the past, shrank to 2.75 lakh km now. The division would reduce the area further and destroy their culture and language ultimately.

He said sharing of river water would be a knotty problem and division would deprive all the three regions of irrigation water. 'How will Nettemapadu and Kalwakurthy get water after division?' he asked.

Expressing concern over law and order after division, former DGP Anjaneya Reddy said 'pranteeya vaadam' was more dangerous than 'ugra vaadam'.

In an indirect attack on the TRS, he said that after division one family would resort to extortions. The state was united with two-thirds majority in the Assembly and the division too required two-thirds majority, he contended.

Seemandhra Advocates JAC leader S Ravindra said division would not be possible before the next general election. Stressing the need for amending Articles 258 and 371(D), he said the process adopted so far was unconstitutional and could be challenged in the Supreme Court. The President may refer the process under Article 143 to the Supreme Court, he felt.

'The Centre cannot assume executive powers with regard to land, water and finance of Hyderabad if it is made common capital. The subjects are defined in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

If the Centre wants executive powers, it should amend the Constitution. There is no mention of common capital in the Constitution. If Hyderabad is to be made joint capital, the Constitution needs to be amended,' Ravindra explained.

Vidyut JAC leader Ganesh said that they would go on a flash strike if a bill on Telangana was introduced in the Assembly. Industrialist Sriram, chartered accountant Dinakar and others also spoke.