Hyderabad: Pragati Bhavan, camp office and residence of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is becoming the new venue to stage protests.
Activists see this as an ideal location to hold protests, after the government took a decision to relocate the Dharna Chowk near Indira Park to LB Nagar on the outskirts.
Presence of protesters at the CM’s residence is becoming a headache for the police. Unlike the Dharna Chowk, there is no designated space near Pragati Bhavan to hold protests, keeping cops on their toes and giving troubles to passers-by.
Police records said that every week two protests are held here. This is seen as an easy way to attract attention of the Chief Minister and the media.
The Dharna Chowk came into being two decades ago after the then TDP government under N Chandrababu Naidu decided to shift it from the existing venue at Lumbini Park.
A senior police official, on condition of anonymity, said that unlike Dharna Chowk, it is becoming difficult to identify protesters at Pragati Bhavan. “Dharna Chowk had an earmarked space for protests. They come from different roads, which also confuse.” he added.
The police have beefed up security around the CM’s house. Two platoons of the Telangana State Special Police (TSSP) are deployed everyday. An SP rank officer is also on duty at the CM’s office.
The Dharna Chowk has been the epicentre of protests. It was also a hotbed during the decade long separate statehood movement, spearheaded by CM K Chandrashekar Rao. But after the state formation, the state decided to shift it to the city outskirts, citing disturbance to residents.
