The statewide bandh called by the Backward Classes (BC) Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Telangana saw leaders and activists forcefully trying to shut down the shutters of jewellery shops on Dhanteras and cabs overcharging passengers returning home before Diwali, as state-run buses remained confined in the terminuses.
There were reports of stone pelting at showrooms even as political parties supporting the bandh claimed that it was successful.
The bandh over 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes led to significant harassment for passengers, owners of jewellery and tiffin centres, as activists barged in and forced them to close their shutters on the eve of Diwali.
A petrol pump that had remained open in Nallakunta was attacked by activists. There was an incident of stone pelting at a Bajaj Electronics showroom, while a tiffin centre was forcibly closed. Gold and jewellery shops, which had hoped for brisk sales on Dhanteras day, were also forced to close down by bandh supporters, although they lifted the shutters as the day progressed.
State-run buses were completely off the roads and passengers were left to be fleeced by the private cabs and autorickshaws.
Claiming that the bandh was successful, transport minister and Congress leader Ponnam Prabhakar said, “We demand that the central government and all the BJP leaders come forward and sanction the 42 per cent reservation Bill.”
Congress leaders across the state wholeheartedly participated in the bandh with rallies and sit-in demonstrations. BC leaders of various parties conducted rallies on foot, bikes and even autorickshaws.
BJP leaders like Etela Rajender and Telangana Jagruthi leader Kalvakuntla Kavitha also participated in sit-in demonstrations in support of the bandh. Rajender said, “There should be no political drama over the BC reservation. We must ensure reservations in the Legislative Assembly and Council.
“Today’s bandh for OBC reservation was completely successful. All parties should come together and fulfil the demands of OBC reservation without any drama.”
However, some grumblings were also heard on the ground as people questioned the bandh call, pointing out that it was the High Court that had given a stay on the government order for 42 per cent reservation for BCs in the upcoming local polls and the Supreme Court refused to intervene and vacate the stay.