The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Telangana activists enjoy ticketless rides

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Friday, Feb 18, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Telangana activists enjoy ticketless rides

Special Correspondent

They raise “Jai Telangana slogans” in buses

Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Intensifying Stir:Telangana activists led by TRS legislator K.T. Rama Rao travelling without tickets in an RTC bus from Khairtabad to AIR to launch non-cooperation movement. –

HYDERABAD: The non-cooperation movement called by the Political Joint Action Committee (JAC) started on Thursday with enthusiastic participation from the people but the impact level varied depending on the sector and the place.

Though youngsters adhered to the non-cooperation call and did not take tickets while travelling in buses it was routine for elders and senior people. The TRS MLA, K. Taraka Rama Rao along with some supporters travelled in an APSRTC bus from Khairatabad to State Assembly without buying tickets.

When conductors asked them to purchase tickets, Telangana supporters categorically said that they would not purchase. They raised “Jai Telangana slogans” when conductors insisted them to travel with tickets. The city region of APSRTC has claimed that over 200 instances of ticketless travel were reported in the city and its suburbs on Thursday.

In some areas, arguments took place between Telangana activists, conductors and passengers. With activists refusing to budge, drivers straightway took buses to the nearest police station where the policemen pacified and dispersed them, said RTC city zone Executive Director A. Purushotam Naik. He said the exact loss could be ascertained only on Friday.

The OU Students Join Action Committee (OUJAC) took out a march from Osmania University to Tarnaka. A group of 100 students later took a round trip from Tarnaka to OU campus covering Uppal, L.B. Nagar, Dilsukhnagar, Koti and Secunderabad in RTC buses. They frequently changed buses in all these routes and refused to buy tickets. The OUJAC spokesperson, Kailash Netha said that they used the travelling time to explain the passengers about the need for Telangana and sought their cooperation in the non-cooperation movement.

Similarly, students of P.G. College Secunderabad came to the OU campus while students of Nizam College travelled to Patancheru in Medak district without paying for the tickets. Students of PG College, Saifabad took buses to Kukatpally. “All the students used the opportunity to espouse the cause of Telangana,” Mr. Netha said.

Meanwhile, Telangana Advocates Joint Action Committee gave a call asking advocates to travel in RTC buses without tickets.

It also gave “Chalo Raj Bhavan” call on February 21 demanding the Central government recall the Governor and introduce a Telangana bill in the forthcoming budget session. Expect High Court, advocates boycotted duties in all other courts on Thursday.

E-Seva centres and several bill collection centres of BSNL functioned normally and customers turned out in regular numbers.

More than 700 customers paid bills at the E-seva centre near the Chief Minister's camp office till evening.

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