TNGOs Plan 'Chalo Munagala, Bhadrachalam'

HYDERABAD: Telangana employees will organise a series of meetings next week to re-emphasise the need for creating Telangana state without any compromise on the status of Hyderabad and Bhadrachalam.

The Central Union, the apex body of Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers (TNGOs) Association, which met here on Saturday, resolved to support the ongoing 72-hour Bhadrachalam Bandh called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee to oppose the proposal for merging the Bhadrachalam division in Khammam district with the proposed residuary state of Andhra Pradesh post bifurcation.

'Under no circumstances will we agree to part with Bhadrachalam which has always been part and parcel of Telangana,' TNGO president G Devi Prasad said, adding that it was a conspiracy by some Seemandhra capitalists to deny Telangana the rightful share of Godavari river water and to ensure no hurdles to construction of the Polavaram dam.

Moreover, such a step would subject Telangana employees in Bhadrachalam divsion to several problems. ''We demand implementation of the CWC's decision to create Telangana state with 10 districts and Hyderabad as its capital in toto,' he said and announced that they would set out on 'Chalo Munagala and Bhadrachalam' on November 23 and 24.

The executive meeting also resolved to participate in 'Chalo Parliament' on Dec 12, called by All India Employees Federation, in which five lakh employees from across the country will be participating. 'It will be on government's violation of employees' rights in regard to pension. We will be leaving on Dec 9.''

Devi Prasad said facts were distorted in the chief secretary's report to the GoM and demanded that the report be revised incorporating the sentiments and aspirations of Telangana people and resubmitted to the GoM.

'We will agree to Hyderabad as transitional capital of Seemandhra state only for a period of three years and the area should be confined to Khairatabad revenue division. We also want Article 371 (D) to stay in force in Telangana state,'' he said.

Criticising the government for failing to set up 10th PRC in time, Devi Prasad demanded 45 percent interim relief by Nov 30, failing which they would launch an agitation in the first week of December.

Welcoming health cards to government employees, he wanted it to be applicable to even employees of Osmania and Telangana universities, and municipal, marketing and aided institutions. He said provision should be made in the health cards for treatment of 347 disorders.

The TNGO chief refused to comment on the threat to launch an agitation in Hyderabad and a strike on the day draft bill on state bifurcation is referred to the state Assembly.

He said medical and health employees of Telangana would organise 'Chalo Hyderabad' on Nov 22 to put forth the demands in respect of new Telangana state. The RR district unit of TNGO will conduct a meet on Nov 18.