The police on Monday suggested six places to the Telangana joint action committee to organise a public meeting instead of a rally from Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram here on Wednesday to highlight unemployment but it was rejected by the JAC as they were on the city outskirts and would not serve purpose.
The suggested places were open grounds at Shamshabad, Nagole, Miyapur, Abdullapurmet, Cherial near Keesara, and Gandipet.
The JAC chairman M. Kodandaram said the permission for the rally to demand jobs to unemployed youth as promised by the State Government was sought in the heart of the city to reach out to the targeted group. “Who will come for the meeting if it is organised far away,” he told The Hindu .
Answering the charges of Deputy Commissioner of Police D. Joel Davis who despatched a written communication to the JAC stating that there was the danger of extremist elements creeping into the rally if permitted, Mr. Kodandaram said similar arguments were advanced by the government when permissions to mobilise public were sought prior to formation of Telangana State. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had himself participated in the “Sakula Janula Bheri” programme at Nizam College as president of TRS.
Mr. Davis, in his proceedings, observed that there appeared to be an ulterior plan to mobilise crowds with a view to bring life in the city to a standstill. The frontal organisations of the Left-wing extremist groups extended support to the rally. The JAC will not be able to control the participating organisations as they had divergent views, he alleged
Earlier, the steering committee of JAC met under the chairmanship of Kodandaram and expressed the hope that the rally will be permitted. Political parties and students organisations from all districts will participate. Fifteen sub-committees to discharge various functions were formed.
TRS denies charges
The claim of Mr. Kodandaram that the Chief Minister went back on his promise to provide jobs to every family was denied by the TRS at a press conference. The party whip in Legislative Council Palla Rajeswara Reddy denied the claim and said it was humanly impossible to give jobs to all 86 families in the State. Meanwhile, there was a groundswell in support for JAC from different organisations.
The State executive of CPI (M) already passed a resolution expressing support while the CPI State council endorsed Mr. Kodandaram’s claim that the Chief Minister had promised jobs to every family.
The Human Rights Forum, Telangana Udyama Vedika and Telangana advocates JAC also supported but Samajika Telangana JAC opposed the rally on the ground that Mr. Kodandaram split student unity in the past.
