HYDERABAD: Fearing preventive arrests after being denied police permission to hold their “save Dharna Chowk” protest on Monday, former Osmania University political science professor, M Kodandaram, who is also Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman and other members on Sunday switched of their cellphones and went into hiding.
The protest is aimed at exerting pressure on the government to drop its proposal to relocate Dharna Chowk, a popular venue for democratic protests in the State capital.
Around 1,900 dharnas were organised in 2016 at Dharna Chowk by various political parties, people's organisations and students' associations.
The TJAC has vowed to conduct the protest despite the State government imposing prohibitory orders in and around Indira Park area, where Dharna Chowk is located.
All opposition parties- Congress, TDP, BJP and Left, extended their support to the programme. Tollywood film star Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party too backed Kodandaram's protest.
Opposition parties, which are already cornering the TRS government over chilli farmers issue, want to utilise the Monday protest to further push the ruling party into a defensive mode whereas the ruling establishment is firm on foiling the attempts of the opposition.
A large contingent of police force has been deployed at and around Indira Park as the government is determined to foil the protest just the way it had thwarted TJAC’s bid to hold a rally by the unemployed and a ‘2K Run’ by detaining Kodandaram and other key leaders. But the TJAC is determined to hold Monday’s protest despite imposition of prohibitory orders around the Indira Park area where Dharna Chowk is located.
Not to be taken off guard as in the past, Kodandaram appears to have changed his strategy and asked his followers to go into hiding till Monday morning to evade preventive arrest.
“This government is not allowing people’s organisations and opposition parties to express their views on its policies. The proposal to shift dharna chowk, which till now served as a venue for democratic protests, to the peripheral areas of the city is a classic example of its autocratic behaviour,” the TJAC chairman said before going into hiding. “This government is not even allowing peaceful protests, which is not good for democracy,” TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy said adding that the Congress cadres would take part in Monday’s protest. BJP state unit too extended support to the programme.
A day ahead of TJAC proposed protest at Dharna Chowk, the police on Sunday closed all routes leading to Indira Park by deploying heavy forces.
Around 150 police men were deployed at the Dharna Chowk as a precautionary measure. Roads leading to Dharna Chowk were blocked by putting barricades. The traffic was also diverted to other routes.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Joel Davis instructed cops to be vigilant and asked them not to allow any protesters to the venue. Instructions were also given not to allow morning walkers to Indira park following the T JAC’s protest at the Dharna chowk.
“We will not allow regular traffic and have already closed all routes leading to the Chowk,” the police said.
1,900 protests held at Dharna Chowk in 2016
The Dharna Chowk came into existence in 2000 when the then TDP government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu in the erstwhile united state shifted the past venue near the Secretariat to Indira Park. Many dharnas and protests were organised at the present venue by political parties including the TRS, people’s organisations and students’ associations and other. Around 1,900 dharnas were organised there in 2016.