Permission for Seemandhra employees meet draws flak

The police permission for a meeting of Seemandhra employees in Hyderabad and the denial of same to proposed peace rallies by Telangana groups has evoked sharp reaction from Telangana activists.

They have termed the government action as a conspiracy to support the ongoing anti-Telangana protests in Seemandhra and an attempt to provoke people of Telangana.

Police have given conditional permission to Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association to hold 'save Andhra Pradesh' meeting Sep 7.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (central zone) Kamalahasan Reddy said only government employees would be allowed to attend the meeting at Lal Bahadur stadium. He said processions and rallies would not be allowed to the venue.

TNGOs, which represent Seemandhra employees, has urged the police to permit all those opposing state's division to attend the meet.

The police have not give permission to Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) and Osmania University students Joint Action Committee for their proposed peace rallies in the city same day. The rallies were planned to demand the centre to speed the process for formation of Telangana state as announced by Congress Working Committee (CWC) July 30.

TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram and other leaders Wednesday called on Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, seeking permission for the rally. Kodandaram wondered how permission can be given for APNGOs meeting in Hyderabad, which is part of Telangana. He said this posed a threat to law and order situation in the city and demanded the centre to intervene.

The government's action in permitting only APNGOs meeting has come under flak from pro-Telangana groups.

Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers (TNGOs) Association president Devi Prasad said it was a conspiracy by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to hurt the sentiments of people of Telangana.

Congress leaders from Telangana including MPs and state ministers have also questioned the government action in allowing Seemandhra meeting while denying permission to TJAC.

"It is a conspiracy by the chief minister, who is trying to stall formation of Telangana state," said Congress MP G. Sukhender Reddy. He warned that government would be responsible for any law and order problems during the meet.

Government chief whip G. Venkatramna Reddy asked the government and the director general of police to reconsider their decision.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader E. Rajender warned that the chief minister was trying to divide people and create problems to stall formation of Telangana state.