Hyderabad: Massive protests erupted in parts of TS on Friday while the government is getting set for creation of new districts and an all-party discussion and Cabinet meet are scheduled for Saturday.
Protests intensified mainly over the proposed Jangaon, Gadwal and Mulugu (Sammakka Saralamma) districts, with scores of leaders and protesters having been arrested amid a few incidents of violence.
JAC calls for bandh today on districts
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is convening the all-party meet to brief leaders on the plan for new districts, that is based on a report from a set of senior officials and the Cabinet subcommittee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali.
Mr Rao’s announcement that the new districts will come into being from Dasara as also a leak of 17 new districts’ list has opened a Pandora’s Box. It is setting off a flurry of demands from many quarters for more of new districts.
Scores of Opposition leaders as also others who hit the streets in three towns on Friday were arrested to blunt the edge of the district-push. Gadwal Congress MLA D.K. Aruna threatened to go on a fast-unto-death if the TRS government didn’t include Gadwal in the list of new districts.
In Warangal, defying a ban on assembly, scores of people from Jangoan, Maddur, Cherial, Ghanpur and other areas converged on the roads, raising slogans against the government and pressing the demand for a Jangaon district.
Protests also erupted in Mulugu in Warangal district demanding a new Sammakka Sarala-mma district. Meanwhile, the Congress, TD, BJP, TRS, Left parties, MIM and others are getting ready for the all-party meet on Saturday, with their suggestions and demands.
