Chiru quits to be ‘hero’, T-fire engulfs films of kin
The Praja Rajyam chief, Chiranjeevi, resigned his membership in the Assembly on Thursday to take up the cause of a united Andhra Pradesh even as Telangana agitators hit the streets again, attacking theatres screening films of his family members.
Sources said Chiranjeevi has decided that this is the right moment to wrest the leadership of the united Andhra Pradesh agitation. He will visit Tirupati on Friday to start the campaign against the division of the state.
Infuriated by Chiranjeevi’s stance, Telangana agitators forcibly stalled screenings of his nephew Allu Arjun’s Arya-2 and son Ramcharan Teja’s Magadheera in Hyderabad and other places on Wednesday.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti activists also vent their ire at cutouts of Junior NTR’s Adurs at Sairam theatre and those of Allu Arjun and Ramcharan Teja in Karimnagar.
Students of the joint action committee staged a dharna in front of the Praja Rajyam office at Jubilee Hills in the city, raising slogans against Chiranjeevi and warning him not to take a stance in favour of United Andhra.
In Warangal, irate students of the Kakatiya University decided to impose a ban on films starring Chiranjeevi family members including Allu Arjun, Ram Charan Teja, Allu Arvind, Pawan Kalyan.
On Wednesday, Kakatiya University JAC members including activists of ABVP and Telangana Graduates Association picketed Amrutha theatre in Hanamkonda, where Allu Arjun’s film was being screened.
They also stopped the screenings of Magadheera and Arya2 in Radhika and Sunil theatres respectively.
“Movies of all actors, directors or producers,who have taken an anti-Telangana stance would be banned in the city,” said Prof K. Venkatanarayana, president of the Telangana Eikya Vedika.
Meanwhile, activists of newly formed Telangana Youth Force took out a rally at Moosapet in the capital and burnt the effigy of Vijayawada MP, Mr L. Rajagopal, who has been vocally campaigning against the division of the state.
“There is a conspiracy to prevent separate statehood for Telangana,” said Mr M. Ajay of Telangana Youth Force.
“We will restart the agitation at full force to stop all efforts to water down the Telangana movement.”
In the wake of the renewed agitation, police has intensified patrolling in Hyderabad and sensitive districts of Telangana.
“After Chiranjeevi’s statement there were attacks on film theatres in Telangana,” said the Inspector General of Police, Ms A.R. Anuradha. “We are taking steps to prevent violence. The Prajar Rjyam office at Kamareddy was also damaged.”
In some parts of Telangana, agitators also raised slogans against the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, for his united Andhra Pradesh stand.
Latest Comments
Ajay Anna, i am became a great fan of you. nuvvu chiranjeevi pai chesina comments na nara naralni upponginchai. nee venaka maa Ramnagar youth anta nitho undanna
Chiranjeevi had become a great leader now. People should appreciate his views. He will soon teach lessons to all the people as he did in cinema industry for last 30 years. Many people will suppor his views except people who write these big stories
This is shameful act on part of Chiranjeevi and others who are participating in anti-Telangana protests now. First, Chiranjeevi should remove Gandhi's picture from the posters before which he appears most of the time. Gandhi stood by whatever decision he made or whatever word he gave. He is insulting Father of Nation by having Gandhi's picture behind him while displaying his resignation. Chiranjeevi, CBN and other MLAs should explain why they supported Telangana in the first place. The present situation is their own doing and not because of the decision made by the Central government. Central government went forward with "seperation of AP" depending on the decision made by the all-party meeting, a platform provided to know the opinion of all parties regarding separation. They should provide an explanation for their decision (and support) in the all party meet. Were they not aware that when they supported Telangana in the all-party meeting, it would be dividing AP into 2 regions? Their support for Telangana meant that they stood for division. Why do they now change their stance and say they want united AP. All those who have changed their stance from what they supported earlier in the all-party meeting, irrespective of party they belong to, are not fit as representatives of people as until now they did not understand their own people who elected them. These people are just politicians and not true representatives of the people and hence they should not be elected henceforth. I support only those who did not support separation during all-party meet and are going forward with united AP agitation now. At least they had the understanding of what AP will be going through and what their constituents will be going through if the seperation is to happen. I am from Telangana area, but I have close relations from all over the state. I support the decision of the people of the state, whether they wanted seperation or stay united. For this, there should be some kind of referendum in parts of Telangana, which shows exactly what they want - whether to stay united or want a seperate state. Their decision should be irrespective of their party affiliation and should be allowed to vote as per their own wish/consciousness.
Father of the Nation, Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi stood by his words (if that is what you meant) to bring Unity amongst the people of India. So lets not drag him into this situation.
We the people need to stand united for the greater cause of developing the state and not to fight among ourselves because of selfish politicians trying to potray the idea of separation is good and good for whom?! There are and will be opportunities for those who work hard with a good competitive spirit for their own betterment and for those around them. So let's focus on the development with unity in mind rather than slicing up the state and the nation like this.
Thereisn't a need for a special referendum as the recent elections clearly indicated that people from telangana region didn't want to split.
Same old words by different people in different forums, the words "let's focus on development" sound sick. Every time Telangana people start agitation everyone says let's develop rather than separate and then they draft an agreement which will never see the light. And every time more and more exploitation of Telangana and its people is the result. It's happening since 1956. Had the government sincerely implemented the Gentlemen Agreement / 610 GO we would have not be standing at this crossroads of separation. Now it's too late and too much time (55yrs) has been given to development (a whole generation is dead already). So Telangana has to be formed. And the brothers from the other side we request you to please withdraw from the agitation and let Telangana people have their state (which was forcibly merged), the more you agitate the more distance it will create between us. Isn't it right after waiting for 50 yrs they still are exploited? Now it's up to Andhra people either separate peacefully and still maintain brotherly relation or forcibly exist under one state and have grudge against each other forever. But one thing is sure no matter what the fight for Telangana goes on until it gets one even after 100 yrs.
I meant what I wrote in my previous column. Gandhiji is a unquestionable Leader (with principles) who took decisions after studying the matter throughly. He did not change his mind just because somebody forced him to nor did he make his decision based on somebody's decision. He clearly knew what was going to happen when United India was asked to be split. He was clear in his opinion and tried his best to dissuade people who wanted to seperate his beloved country. Whatever happened afterwards was not in his control. Chiranjeevi is a politician using Gandhiji's picture and acting as if he is a follower of Gandhiji's principles, which is not proper here. Chiranjeevi (and all others who said YES) did not grasp the seriousness of Telangana before, during or after the all party meeting that was held. Their own interests came to the fore when they supported Telangana. Now that the people from Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra started protesting, he changed his mind - actually, he was FORCED to change his mind because he would loose whatever votes he got in the last elections. Nobody (Cong, TD or PR) mentioned that they want to stay united during the all party meeting. Why? So how come this instant love for united Andhra now? Is that how Gandhiji Was? NO. Hence he is insulting Father Of Nation in his own way. People of Coastal and Rayalaseema, who woke-up to reality with the statement made by Chidambaram, and started protesting (the very next morning) are real people fighting for united cause. All these politicians who are resigning now either want to gain sympathy of the people for the sake of votes or are slow in understanding the issue at hand. They are not fit to be representatives of people. And regarding focus on development of Telangana, whether it is seperate or united, it is not going to help people of this region. Since the decision (taken in haste) to seperate the state is made by the Union Government, it certainly would create more fodder to unsocial elements to create disturbance, if Centre goes back on its word. The people who suffer are the innocent citizens who neither have any connection or interest in whatever is going on with the current situation. The need for the hour is for a Leader who can make all these politicians to sit together and talk it out. Unfortunately, we do not have one.
More from Hyderabad
Post your comment