The move to continue the near two-week-long ‘non-cooperation agitation' by the Telangana Joint Action Committee of employees, teachers and workers, which has already affected the functioning of the Government and revenue collections, puts the Andhra Pradesh Government in further trouble.

No let-down

Several rounds of talks between the representatives of the Telangana JAC and the State Government, through a Group of Ministers constituted to negotiate with the leaders, have not yielded any result with the former steadfast on its mission seeking further moves to address their concerns and work towards creation of a separate State of Telangana.

The Cabinet sub-committee comprising the State Finance Minister, Mr Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, the Roads and Buildings Minister, Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao, the Minister for Higher Education, Mr C. Damodar Rajanarasimha, and the Minister for Labour, Mr D. Nagender, have negotiated with T-JAC leaders but without much success.

Even the State Chief Minister, Mr N. Kirana Kumar Reddy, has personally appealed to them to reason out and call off the non-cooperation movement as it was affecting Government, implementation of welfare schemes and also projects.

Mr Devi Prasad and Mr G. Vittal, Co-Chairman of Joint Action Committee of Telangana Employees, Teachers and Workers, on Thursday reiterated they would continue their peaceful agitation mode. The impact of the non-cooperation movement is not just on the functioning of the administration but also on the disbursement of salaries. In fact, in the last two weeks, the revenue inflows have dwindled as staff have abstained from work.

The Chairman of the Telangana Joint Action Committee, Mr M. Kodandaram, announced on Thursday that they plan to initiative a massive ‘Chalo Hyderabad' agitation on February 10. Incidentally, this coincides with the Intermediate examinations. He said that it is for the Government to decide when to hold it as they are clear about their agenda.

Revenue collections

When asked about the impact of the stir on revenue collections, the Finance Minister stated that it was a temporary phenomenon and that the Government was confident of achieving the targets.

Meanwhile, the Sate legislative Assembly proceedings were stalled yet again with a section of members demanding a move towards creation of separate State of Telangana.

In another development, the State Endowments Minister, Mr Jupally Krishna Rao, on Thursday sent in his resignation letter to the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to pressure the Centre to pave the way for separate Statehood.

Addressing the media, he said that the Government staff have started non-cooperation agitation, many youths had committed suicide and there is unrest in Telangana for a separate State.

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