Hyderabad: “It’s a great feeling to see Telangana becoming a reality. The movement started to safeguard the Gentleman’s Agreement, implementation of Mulki rules and to stop diversion of Hyderabad funds, but changed course to the separate Telangana movement,” said 76-year-old K.R. Amos, Congress MLC and veteran T-movement leader.
He exuded confidence that the new state, under the leadership of TRS president, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, would grow into a vibrant and strong state and fulfill the aspirations of the people, especially in the employment sector.
Mr Amos, who headed the Telangana Non Gazetted Officers (TNGOs) organisation in the 1960s and led the separate Telangana movement along with S.L.N. Chary and Teachers’ Union leader Rama Brahmam, is among the few including Dr M. Sridhar Reddy and ex- MLA Nagam Krishna Rao to see birth of the Telangana State. From employees, the movement went into the hands of the politicians and was spearheaded by leaders like former Chief Minister Dr M. Channa Reddy.
“Telangana has been achieved due to a protracted struggle by the people and the firm decision by Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi,” remarked Mr Amos.
A clerk in the then Industries department of the Secretariat, Mr Amos says that the trouble began in 1960s over appointment of non-Mulkis in Kothagudem Thermal Power Station.
The Telangana employees protested and soon they were joined by student leaders like Mr Mallikarjun, Mr M. Sridhar Reddy and Mr Pulla Reddy among others from the OU Campus.
“Dr Marri Channa Reddy, who was sacked from the Brahmananda Reddy ministry, joined hands with Madan Mohan, Mallikarjun, Pratap Kishore and Swamy among others and floated the Telangana Praja Samiti. The 1969 agitation turned violent and nearly Nation, politics, telangana formation, andhra pradesh bifurcation350 people died in police firing. I was arrested on March 31, 1969 under the PD Act,” he recalled.
Mr Amos wants the new government to help the kin of those who died and who were injured for Telangana in the 1969 agitation and the recent Telangana movement led by Mr Rao. “There is a huge task ahead for the new government. I am confident they will achieve the goal,” he added.
