Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman M. Kodandaram on Tuesday asserted a political solution and not a “police solution” would end the Telangana tangle. “Talks on Telangana should continue in New Delhi. Lobbying and agitation should go hand-in-hand. Ultimately, a political solution and not a police solution will solve Telangana issue. Telangana is inevitable,” he said. Prof Kodandaram added, “Let’s continue talks in New Delhi and fight in galli (lanes). We will not be cowed down by cases.”
He and other TJAC leaders staged “mouna vratham” (silent protest) at Bapu Ghat to protest against what they said was the government’s attempt to crush the Telangana movement and foist cases against T-activists who participated in the T-march on Sunday. After the silent protest, TJAC leaders accused the government and police of provoking the marchers and putting obstacles at every point. This, they said, led to skirmishes with the police at Necklace Road and other places. “Instead of adopting a democratic approach and allowing the peaceful rally, the government and police, right from the beginning, adopted a vindictive attitude towards the T-activists. They wanted to crush the T-march and T-agitation,” Prof Kodandaram said.
He said Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s comments that it was not possible to take up T-issue now were highly condemnable. Condemning criticism of the TRS by Vimalakka at ‘Sagara Haaram’, Prof Kodandaram said TJAC had made it clear that there should be no criticism of each other in the outfit. “TRS is playing a key role. The party is holding talks with the Centre in Delhi, which is also needed,” he said.