Thaindian News

Hyderabad, Feb 11 (IANS) The agitation for separate statehood to Telangana is set to intensify with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) gearing up to launch a non-cooperation movement from Feb 17 and an indefinite shutdown from Feb 22.The JAC, an apex body of the political parties and the groups fighting for separate Telangana state Friday decided to go ahead with the indefinite protest to demand introduction of a bill in Parliament for carving out a separate state.

JAC Convenor M. Kodandaram announced an action plan under the non-cooperation movement and also a series of protest programmes in the run up to the campaign.

The JAC, which comprises Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and various groups representing government employees, lawyers, students and other sections, wants the central government to table a bill in the coming budget session of parliament.

As part of the non-cooperation movement, people in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana will not buy tickets while travelling in the state-owned Road Transport Corporation buses.

“People will also not pay utility charges and taxes like toll tax on highways and property tax,” Kodandaram said. The JAC further appealed to people to boycott the ongoing census.

“People launch non-cooperation movement if they feel the government is illegitimate. We feel this government represents only the interests of the ruling classes of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions,” he said.

He added that the JAC would organise rallies, picket government offices, “jail bharo” and lay siege to the houses of Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislators before launching the non-cooperation movement.

The protestors will block traffic on highways to mount pressure on the government.

The government employees and the teachers in Telangana have also decided to participate in the non-cooperation movement by not performing their duties.