Thousands march for Telangana, two Cong MPs attacked

Two Congress MPs were attacked and some police and media vehicles were also targeted during the protest march.

Removing barricades, barbed wire fencing and clashing with security personnel despite elaborate arrangements, the Telangana supporters gathered on the about three-km-long Tank Bund on the banks of the picturesque Hussain Sagar lake.

Several MLAs and other leaders from all major political parties including TDP, TRS and BJP and Telangana political Joint Action Committee (JAC) were taken into custody by police.

Congress MPs K Keshav Rao and Madhu Yashki Goud, who came to participate in the event, were attacked with water bottles, chappals and had to leave the place. Goud said a wrong impression has been created among Telangana supporters that a Constitutional crisis triggered by resignations of leaders would pave way for formation of separate Telangana.

The attack could have been done by such people who believed so, he said.
At the Tank Bund road, Telangana supporters set on fire two police vehicles and destroyed the statues of some great Telugu personalities.

Telangana supporters have often complained that great personalities from Telangana were ignored and those from non- Telangana regions got importance while statues were installed.

Some mediapersons and their vehicles and equipment also had to face the ire of the angry crowds. Some cameras and other equipment were thrown into the lake.

'Jai Telangana' slogans, songs and drum-beats hailing Telangana reverberated on the Tank Bund road. The Telangana supporters, including TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao and senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya, took a pledge to work for separate Telangana.

Describing the 'march' as a success, Telangana political JAC Convener M Kodandaram said it reflected the aspirations of people of the region.

The attacks on Congress MPs and statues is not justifiable but it could have been done by the people in anger, he said, adding policemen in plain-clothes could have been behind the attacks.

Meanwhile, traffic diversions and restrictions threw life out of gear in the city as office-goers had a tough time reaching their destinations especially in the morning hours.

Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed especially on the roads near the State Secretariat and Legislative Assembly.

The JAC Convener alleged that police took thousands of Telangana supporters into illegal custody in the last few days in their attempt to foil the 'march'.