Parents of school children have decided to up the ante. Striking a defiant tone they have set a deadline for the Telangana protagonists to declare exemption of educational institutions from the ambit of agitation by October 15. Otherwise they would be forced to go on hunger strike from the next day - most probably in front of the TRS Bhavan.
Members of the newly formed Greater Hyderabad School Parents Association (GHSPA) have sought the intervention of anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare, to lead them in their fight for right to education. The aggrieved parents further warned that the Telangana movement would lose peoples support if it continued to play havoc with the career of students.
They asked the TRS leaders, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, Harish Rao and JAC leader, Prof. Kodandaram, to immediately issue an unambiguous statement that schools and colleges were excluded from the ongoing agitation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mir Liaqat Hussain Razvi, president, G. Srinivas Rao, vice-president and Khalid Rasool Khan, member, GHSPA, said it was the opinion makers in the cities who influenced the way people in the rural areas think and act. If the urbanites continued to suffer with their wards unable to attend schools, it would adversely impact the Telangana movement.
Appeal to leaders
“We appeal to the leaders to immediately suspend their call to close educational institutions”, the parents said. They repeatedly asserted that they were not against Telangana but at the same time did not want the agitation to disturb their children's career.
ADVERTISEMENT
The parents asked the Telangana leaders to take a cue from Mr. Hazare who successfully conducted his campaign without affecting a single citizen. GHSPA convenor, Mrs. R. Tiwari, said a letter had been faxed to Mr. Hazare seeking his guidance and support since the government was least bothered about the students.
She said some corporate schools wanted to run the classes from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and conduct the term examination online. “Is it possible for an aam aadmi to be prepared for all this”, she asked.
Tight security
The media conference at the Press Club in Basheerbagh was held under tight police security. In fact the policemen also trooped into the meeting hall, something not normally done.
Why didn't the Association bother about education and other student affairs earlier? The members had no answer but they clarified that they were not affiliated to any party.