Hundreds arrested as Telangana Bandh for farmers begins

Hyderabad, October 10: Hundreds of activists of Congress, TDP, BJP, YSRCP and Left Parties were arrested across the State for trying to enforce ‘Telangana Bandh’ on Saturday. The bandh call has been jointly given by opposition parties demanding payment of crop loan waiver dues at one go.

Senior leaders of opposition parties including TPCC Chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Leader of Opposition Mohammed Ali Shabbir, TTDP president L. Ramana, TDP floor leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao, BJP floor leader Dr. K. Lakshman and other senior leaders were arrested when they tried to prevent RTC buses from coming out of major bus depots in the city. Similar protests were made at all other bus depots across the State and leaders and activists of all opposition parties have been taken into custody. All of them have been shifted to different police stations.

The opposition parties have been demanding that the State Government clear pending dues of promise crop loan waiver of nearly Rs. 8,500 at one go instead of installments. They alleged that non-clearance of crop loans was the major factor that drove nearly 1500 farmers to suicide since June 2014.

So far, the Telangana Bandh has evoked mixed response across the State. A majority of shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in all 10 districts of Telangana. The public transportation was badly hit and many inter-district services were also hit. (INN)