KCR 'curtailing' people's right to protest, will result in increasing dissent: CPI

New Delhi: CPI National Secretary K Narayana on Thursday criticised Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for allegedly "curtailing" people's democratic right to protest.

Speaking to reporters here, Narayana said, "The Telangana Chief Minister has banned people from protesting in Indira Park in Hyderabad. Curtailing a democratic right will result in increasing dissent among people."

On February 22, Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M Kodandaram and several others were taken into preventive custody ahead of their proposed rally at Indira Park on the issue of unemployment for which they have been denied permission.

TJAC is an umbrella organisation of different pro- Telangana groups that had spearheaded the movement for separate state.

"KCR who achieved a separate statehood and became Chief Minister, was because of protests he held and it is ironical that he has become intolerant towards protests," the CPI leader said.

At a time when KCR has failed to fulfill promises he made and when there has been nothing done to sort unemployment issues, banning protests shows the Chief Minister's attitude towards people, he said.

"Apart from other issues farmers' loans have not been waived off yet. When there is so much dissatisfaction among people, it is not right to stop them from protesting," said Narayana.

He alleged KCR was trying to hide the "irregularities" in his way of functioning the government.