Security has been tightened in Telangana, including Hyderabad, for Wednesday's bandh in support of a separate state. Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has said he is ready for talks but will not accept any committee to discuss the issue.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr P C have been clamped across the Telangana region, and thousands of police and para-military personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. South Central Railways has cancelled 165 suburban and local trains on Wednesday, in view of the bandh. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has cancelled 5,200 buses in the region. This will affect 30 lakh passengers and cost the corporation Rs 4 crore in lost revenues today.
On Tuesday, the Congress Core Group - including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party President Sonia Gandhi - met in Delhi, amidst speculation that a committee could be formed as a way out of the present imbroglio. The TRS chief reacted saying that such a panel would only end up wasting time.
"The Centre should immediately come forward and find a solution. We demand that it sticks to its earlier statement. We are not ready to accept any committees. Except wasting time, these committees serve no purpose," he told reporters, adding, "The patience of Telangana people need not be tested unnecessarily. If Delhi wants to discuss with anyone that is okay. Both regions are ready to come. We have that much patience. We have experts and people with wisdom. We will discuss in Joint Action Committee (JAC) and send our representatives."
The JAC, comprising a number of outfits fighting for Telangana statehood, has called for the shutdown on Wednesday, demanding that the Centre take immediate steps towards a separate Telangana state.
According to Andhra Pradesh's Director General of Police Girish Kumar, the state has suffered losses worth Rs 15 crore in Telangana-related incidents since the agitation began a month ago.
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