With the farmers’ called ‘Bharat Bandh’ in full swing in the national capital, Telangana too saw major glimpses of its effects as the Chief Minister had appealed to all citizens of the state to observe the bandh in solidarity with the agitating farmers.
The protesting farmers have a huge backing from Telangana as many services remained closed in the state including government-run buses. Private shops and other businesses too were seen shut in view of the bandh.
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation buses remained in their respective depots across all districts while TRS leaders and ministers were witnessed holding a ‘Rasta Roko dharna’ on National Highways.
Statewide running operations of buses belonging to the Mahatma Gandhi Bus depot were halted since Tuesday morning. All 3000 state-run buses of the city remained in their respective depots, though they are expected to get started post noon.
Nalgonda district offers 739 TSRTC buses to its residents, all of which did not start their engines since today morning after Left party members conducted a sit-in protest in front of the depots of Nalgonda, Devarakonda, Narketpally, Yadagirigutta, Suryapet, Miryalagadu and Kodad. They blocked the main gates so as to stop the public vehicles from leaving the premises.
A rally staging dharna with 2,000 tractors was started by Energy Minister G Jagdish Reddy that is expected to end in a ‘maha dharna’ at Jangaon crossroads on NH-65 while the beginning point was Tekumatla. Several bike rallies were also held in many parts of the state, majorly induced by the TRS party members.
In Medak, the scenario was quite similar with the farmers’ unions, Congress, TRS and Left party joining in, to stage sit-ins in the district’s most prominent junctions.
Meanwhile, in Patancheru, many farmers and activists took part in a sit-in organized and led by MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy on NH-65 of the district.
Mancherial witnessed a peaceful dharna as TSRTC buses remained confined to their depots and businesses shuttered down. MLA Diwakar Rao headed a protest consisting of TRS activists and several farmers’ organizations after gathering in front of the district’s main bus depot and raising slogans against the contentious farm laws and Centre’s dim ability in resolving the woes of the farmers.
Farmers holding ‘rasta roko’ at the Indraram junction on Hyderabad-Mancherial Rajiv Rahadari received the support of Chennur MLA Balka Suman. He expressed his views on the farm laws by saying that the trio will lead to a disastrous aftermath on the agricultural field of India.
Responding to the nationwide bandh, Warangal’s commercial sector, stores, banks, etc. remained shut. A Rasta Roko dharna was held near Kazipet, town close to Warangal city on Hyderabad-Warangal Highway, by Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao and other TRS leaders, including MLAs to voice their support to the protesting farmers in Delhi.
TRS leader and Bhupalpally MLA Gandra Venkatraramana Reddy along with party workers organized a protest in Bhupalpally town’s bus depot. The MLA said that Centre’s ruling party was making all attempts to work against the benefit of the poor farmers of the nation while demanding the Centre for the immediate abolition of the new farm laws.
SA similar show was seen in Khammam district where TRS and Left party activists along with many farmers staged a dharna on the roads to give more strength to the farmers.
The city also witnessed a massive bike rally carried out by the TRS cadres supporting Bharat Bandh. Transport Minister P Ajay Kumar and MP Nama Nageswar Rao are due to get involved in the protests of the city soon.
The situation in Nizamabad was no different and several party leaders of TRS were seen protesting in front of bus depots to stop their movement in view of the bandh.
