Nalgonda, December 18: Several youths in the region sacrificed their lives for the cause of separate Telangana but apparently only one among them, who immolated himself in the capital city, has gained prominence. The political leaders too failed to recognise the sacrifices of the youths. And this is leading to severe dissatisfaction among the bereaved families.
The agitation for separate statehood to Telangana has risen to an unimaginable level in the region after the arrest of TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao on November 29. And it had more impact than the agitation held for the same purpose in 1969. The Centre had announced that the process for carving out the separate State will be initiated.
Five persons from the district (all aged below 30 years) had sacrificed their lives during the 11 days of agitation for Telangana after the TRS chief launched his indefinite hunger strike.
TRS activist Kasoju Srikanth, a native of Podichedu in Mothkur mandal, was one among the five who died for separate State.
Following self-immolation, he was hospitalised and died while undergoing treatment.
The others who ended their lives for separate Telangana included Gunti Satish belonging to Rayigiri in Bhongir mandal, N Veera Nagulu belonging to Polaran in Nadigudem mandal, Daravath Sudhakar of Gogulagutta in Thurkapally mandal and Gopi Ramulu of Mallapur village in Yadagirigutta mandal. Three others attempted suicide for the same cause in the district.
However, it was Srikanth who was the first from the district to end his life for the cause. He made headlines for self-immolation and probably for the same reason, leaders of various parties including the TRS and the Congress, had come forward to extend financial aid to his bereaved family.
Srikanth doused himself in petrol and set himself ablaze at LB Nagar in Hyderabad after the TRS chief was arrested and lodged in hospital. On arrival of dead body to the his native Podichedu village, the TRS chief ’s son K T Rama Rao declared a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family.
Medak MP Vijayasanthi also announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh the next day.
Being the first person from the district to have sacrificed life in support of separate State, the TRS leaders have taken out rallies carrying Srikanth’s placards and educational institutions too remained shut as a mark of sympathy.
But the same symapthetic acts were not repeated with regard to the other four youths who died for separate Telangana.
While withdrawing from his indefinite hunger strike, the TRS chief had thanked the youngsters for making the agitation a success and promised to extend financial support to all the bereaved families of the youths who ended their lives. But no such relief was provided to the bereaved kin of the four families in the district so far.
–Agencies